Trump urges Gaza war to end ‘immediately’

Trump blamed the breakdowns in ceasefire negotiations on Hamas, which governs Gaza, and insisted that the Palestinian group “has repeatedly rejected reasonable offers to make peace”.

On the other side of the talks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has continually been accused of stalling the ceasefire negotiations since the beginning of Israel’s war.

Israel targeted Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital, Doha, this month as the Palestinian leaders were meeting there to discuss the latest truce proposal put forth by the US.

The Israeli prime minister broke the last ceasefire with Hamas in mid-March and imposed a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has led to famine and deaths from starvation in the enclave.

Hamas on Tuesday denied any responsibility for the failure to reach a deal to end the war in Gaza.

“We have never been an obstacle to reaching an agreement,” it said in a statement.

“The US administration, the mediators and the world know that Netanyahu is the sole obstructionist in all attempts to reach an agreement,” it added.

Hamas announced it was ready for a truce that will lead to the release of captives and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, as well as a withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza, but that Netanyahu has refused to commit to a full withdrawal.

This month, Netanyahu decided to seize Gaza City, launching a ground invasion that has killed hundreds of Palestinians and displaced thousands more.

More than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its war, which a UN commission has described as amounting to genocide. The US has been heavily criticised for continuing to arm Israel, as it intensifies its attacks.