By Ahmet Salih Alacaci
WASHINGTON (AA) - Palestinian group Hamas "didn't really want to make a deal," President Donald Trump said Friday after the US and Israel recalled their teams negotiating a possible Gaza ceasefire agreement.
Speaking to reporters at the White House lawn before departing for Scotland, Trump said Hamas "pulled out in terms of negotiating" in the Qatari capital Doha, from where the US and Israeli withdrew their negotiators Thursday following the Palestinian group's response to a truce proposal.
"It's very, very bad. It got to me to a point where you're going to have to finish the job," Trump said, claiming that Hamas avoided an agreement because "when you get down to those last 20 hostages ... it's going to be very hard for Hamas to make a deal because they lose their shield."
Trump's special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff announced Thursday that the US delegation participating in the Gaza ceasefire talks will return to Washington for consultations following Hamas' response, which he said "clearly shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza."