Trump: Hamas can end Gaza crisis by surrendering

President Donald Trump calls on Hamas to surrender and release all 50 remaining hostages, calling it the fastest path to ending the crisis in Gaza.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

President Donald Trump has called on Hamas to surrender and release the 50 remaining hostages held in the Gaza Strip, arguing that capitulation by the Islamist terror group is the quickest way to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

On Thursday morning, Trump took to his Truth Social account in response to claims of an ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

“The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!!,” Trump wrote.

The comment comes amid growing pressure from America’s European allies, including Britain and France, on Israel to end the war against Hamas in Gaza.

Both countries recently announced plans to recognize Palestinian statehood in September if the Gaza war has not been concluded by that time.

The European Union has also pressed Israel to take steps to ease both the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and to limit military operations in densely populated areas, facilitating civilian movement to aid distribution points.

The Trump administration, meanwhile, has dispatched Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to Israel to assess claims of a famine in Gaza.

Witkoff met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday after arriving in Israel.

According to US officials quoted in a report by Axios on Wednesday, Witkoff is considering visiting the Gaza Strip to inspect relief distribution sites operated by the American-based aid group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

The senior White House envoy’s visit comes amid reports of a collapse in hostage deal talks between Israel and Hamas in Doha, Qatar.

Last Friday, Trump blamed Hamas for the stalled talks, telling reporters that Hamas leaders “didn’t want to make a deal” and claimed that they “want to die.”