Trump says ‘Israel needs to make a decision’ on Gaza; White House said to mull ‘comprehensive’ deal to end the war

U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated on Sunday his desire to end the Gaza War as soon as possible, amid reports that his team is working on a potential “comprehensive” deal to end the nearly 22-month-long conflict in one blow.

“The time has come to bring the hostages home. There are 20 living hostages and the remains of others,” Trump told reporters during his visit to Scotland. “There are many parents who want their loved ones’ remains returned.”

“Israel will have to make a decision. I know what I would do, but I’m not sure I should say it,” the president said.

Commenting on claims of starvation in the Gaza Strip, he added, “It’s terrible to see the children, especially in recent weeks. People are stealing food, stealing money, stealing money meant for food. It’s a mess. The whole place is a mess.”

REPORTER: Should Israel be doing more to allow food in Gaza?

TRUMP: Say it?

REPORTER: Should Israel be doing more to allow food in Gaza?

TRUMP: What is she saying?

SOMEONE ELSE: Should Israel be doing more to allow food in Gaza?

TRUMP: You really at least want to have… pic.twitter.com/BJhUIXdxzM

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 27, 2025

Last week, the U.S. and Israel withdrew their negotiating teams from Doha, Qatar, after Hamas’ unconstructive response to the latest Israeli offers, which included significant concessions.

“You know, they had a routine discussion the other day and, all of a sudden, they hardened up,” Trump said, referring to Hamas. He concluded that the Hamas leaders “don’t want to give them back,” in reference to the remaining 50 hostages still held in the Gaza Strip.

The proposed deal would have secured the release of 10 of the approximately 20 living hostages, and half the hostage bodies, in exchange for a two-month ceasefire intended to lead to a permanent end to the war.

After the apparent collapse of the talks, Trump, U.S. Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu each hinted that an alternative approach to ending the war could be pursued, but without specifying any details.

According to several reports relying on U.S. and Middle Eastern sources, members of the Trump administration are now considering a comprehensive move to decisively end the war, which may include another large-scale military operation.

“It’s clear to everyone that a comprehensive deal is significantly harder to get both sides to agree on,” a source familiar with the matter told The Jerusalem Post.

In Israel, officials are reportedly considering issuing a final ultimatum to Hamas before formally ending the negotiations. An Israeli official told the Jerusalem Post that, “Although the negotiating team has returned to Israel, it remains in constant contact with the mediators.”

Meanwhile, Witkoff is said to have met with senior Qatari officials on the island of Sardinia, Italy, several times over the past days.

Egyptian diplomatic sources also told the Hezbollah-affiliated Lebanese al-Akhbar newspaper that the White House is moving toward a “more comprehensive vision” – one that reportedly takes inspiration from the American victory over Germany and Japan in World War II.

The sources explained that the U.S. might follow “historical developments” by first seeking to subdue Gaza militarily before rebuilding the area from the ground up.

This approach would echo Trump’s plans for a Gazan “Riviera,” which he presented several months ago but which have been largely ignored since then.

The sources added that Israel’s recent actions in Gaza could be part of a broader strategic approach toward a more direct role in the enclave.

For the future, this could mean, for example, conditioning reconstruction on the absence of terror groups and the presence of collaborating militias in a certain area, the sources noted.

The new approach has reportedly been welcomed by the United Arab Emirates, which – perhaps not coincidentally – began constructing a new water line to Gaza this week. Meanwhile, an Egyptian source warned of the “danger of this new approach” and said Egypt would oppose it.

Interestingly, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) also noted the example of Germany and Japan in an interview with NBC News on Sunday.

“I think President Trump has come to believe, and I certainly have come to believe, there’s no way you’re going to negotiate an end of this war with Hamas,” Graham said. “They’re going to do in Gaza what we did in Tokyo and Berlin – take the place by force and start over again, presenting a better future for the Palestinians, hopefully having the Arabs take over the West Bank and Gaza.”

Graham's statement echoed comments made by President Trump earlier, indicating he had abandoned hope in a negotiated settlement.

“The Gaza Strip, you know, was given many years ago so that they could have peace,” Trump said, referring to Israel’s 2005 disengagement from Gaza. “That didn’t work out too well when Israel gave that up.”