US President Donald Trump has signaled that Israel should escalate the conflict with Hamas in Gaza, saying the group doesn’t want a ceasefire. Trump made the comments after a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump stated that Hamas didn’t want to release remaining hostages because they wanted to maintain their bargaining chip and protection. He said Israel needs to “finish the job” and eliminate Hamas. However, this is not a new idea, as Israel has been hunting down Hamas militants in Gaza for nearly two years.
Despite the recent ceasefire proposal from Qatari and Egyptian mediators, negotiations broke down when Hamas made a counteroffer that was rejected by Israel. The US has now considered “alternative options” to bring home the hostages.
The situation remains dire, with nine more Palestinians dying of starvation-related complications in Gaza over the past 24 hours. The humanitarian crisis has worsened, and the international community is urging an end to the conflict.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2025/07/25/trump-gaza-ceasefire-finish-job-hamas