WASHINGTON DC — Just weeks after expressing optimism that a ceasefire deal in Gaza was within reach, U.S. President Donald Trump has reversed course, withdrawing his negotiators from talks and signaling support for Israel to intensify its military campaign, despite growing global concern over starvation and suffering in the Palestinian enclave.

The White House decision to suspend involvement in ceasefire negotiations came amid what it described as frustration with Hamas, which Trump administration officials claimed have been disorganized and unwilling to engage in good faith. Steve Witkoff, Trump's envoy to the Middle East, confirmed this week that he is now exploring "alternative options" to secure the release of remaining hostages.

He did not comment on the plight of the more than two million Palestinians who are being constantly bombarded, shot to death, and starved.

Rather than press for a return to negotiations, Trump appeared to back Israeli escalation during comments to reporters Friday before departing for a weekend trip to Scotland. "I think they want to die, and it's very, very bad," he said of Hamas. "It got to be to a point where you're gonna have to finish the job."

As CNN reported, it remains unclear whether Trump's remarks reflect a genuine collapse in talks or a calculated strategy to pressure Hamas into concessions. Nevertheless, the president's tone marked a shift from earlier this month, when he had suggested a deal was imminent.

Despite Trump's public pessimism, Egypt and Qatar—key mediators in the region—described the latest pause in negotiations as routine given the complexities involved. In a joint statement released by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two countries said they would continue efforts toward a lasting truce.

A senior Israeli official, speaking to CNN, also insisted that negotiations had "not at all" collapsed and suggested they could still resume.

However, the U.S. withdrawal sent shockwaves through Doha, the Qatari capital hosting the talks. "This is an earthquake," one source familiar with the process told CNN. "We're dealing with the aftershock."

The unresolved issues reportedly include the timing and conditions of a permanent ceasefire, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and the Israeli military's future presence in Gaza. Underscoring the indifference of Israel's concern for hostages, Hamas said they were shocked at the U.S. claim, saying the return of the hostages had not yet come up in negotiations, and were scheduled to be discussed next week.

Regardless, speaking from the South Lawn of the White House on Friday, before departing for a tour of his golf resort in Scotland, Trump placed blame for the impasse squarely on Hamas. "Now we're down to the final hostages," he said. "And they know what happens after you get the final hostages... they really didn't want to make a deal."

The president's comments appeared intended to provoke movement from Hamas, even as some U.S. officials maintained that negotiations could still be salvaged. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told CNN that both Trump and Witkoff remained committed and were exploring all available tools.

"We've tried. The world has watched this," Bruce said. "There are many tools in President Trump's tool chest."

Yet no timeline has been provided for when—or if—a deal might come together, even after Trump's earlier assertion in July that an agreement was just days away.

"Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff got it right. Hamas is the obstacle to a hostage release deal," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on X on Friday night. "Together with our U.S. allies, we are now considering alternative options to bring our hostages home, end Hamas's terror rule, and secure lasting peace for Israel and our region."

Hamas, for its part, rejected the claim the organization was behind the collapse in talks, and blamed Israel. "We are appalled by the statements of U.S. President Trump and earlier by U.S. special envoy Witkoff, which contradict the mediators' assessment of Hamas' position and are inconsistent with the actual progress of negotiations that had been acknowledged by mediators, particularly Qatar and Egypt, as they expressed satisfaction and appreciation for our serious and constructive stance," Izzat Al-Rishq, a member of the Hamas Movement's Political Bureau, said in a statement on Saturday.

Al-Rishq claimed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government was "the real obstructionist to all agreements," alleging Israeli officials were continuing to "put up obstacles, deceive, and evade commitments." He called on the U.S. to put more pressure on Israel." 

Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. During a meeting Friday in Tunis, Tunisian President Kais Saied handed Trump's senior Africa adviser Massad Boulos photographs of malnourished children, highlighting the urgency of delivering aid. "It is absolutely unacceptable," Saied said, according to AFP. "It is a crime against all of humanity."

At the White House, Trump deflected blame, accusing Hamas of blocking humanitarian supplies and defending U.S. contributions. "We gave $60 million to food and supplies and everything else," he said. "We hope the money gets there… the food gets taken."

However, according to CNN, an internal U.S. government review found no evidence that Hamas has systematically stolen American-funded aid in Gaza.

International criticism of Israel's military actions is also mounting. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described Israel's campaign as "indefensible" on Friday. French President Emmanuel Macron said France would recognize a Palestinian state at September's UN General Assembly—an announcement that drew sharp rebuke from Israel and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Trump, for his part, appeared unbothered. Referring to Macron, he said, "He's a very good guy. I like him. But that statement doesn't carry weight."

Meantime rallies protesting the plight of the Gazans have erupted around the world. Even in Tel Aviv, tens of thousands of people gathered in Habima Square, not only demanding the return of the hostages, but calling for an end to the so-called war in Gaza.