US President Donald Trump claimed that the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) does not truly want to reach a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel is considering options for returning the prisoners.
Trump said in remarks today from the White House garden that there will have to be a fight and the elimination of Hamas, as he said, "It doesn't want to reach a deal, and I think it wants to die."
He added that his administration had withdrawn from the Gaza negotiations, which he described as unfortunate, accusing Hamas of not wanting to reach an agreement because it knew what would happen after all the hostages were returned.
He explained that he was aware of the difficulty of recovering the remaining prisoners in Gaza, because their release would deprive Hamas of its remaining bargaining chips, as he put it.
He said he spoke with Netanyahu about sending aid to the Gaza Strip, but declined to go into details, saying, "I can't reveal what I spoke with Netanyahu about, and it was somewhat disappointing."
He noted that "the families of the Israeli prisoners asked him to help return their sons, including the dead, and we did so."
He stressed his disregard for French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement regarding recognition of a Palestinian state, saying it has no weight and his words carry no weight.
Trump made these remarks to reporters at the White House a day after his Middle East peace envoy, Steve Witkoff, said the Trump administration had decided to return its negotiating team to the United States for consultations following the latest proposals presented by Hamas.
For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that Israel is now studying, with its ally the United States, alternative options for returning prisoners from Gaza, ending Hamas' rule in the Gaza Strip, and ensuring lasting peace for Israel and the region, he said.
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Trump confirms that Hamas does not want an agreement, and Netanyahu: We are studying options to return the hostages.