US, Israel Blame Hamas for Gaza Hostage Crisis, Aid Site Casualties

The ongoing conflict in Gaza continues to cause a severe humanitarian crisis, with the United States and Israeli officials placing the blame on Hamas for perpetuating the violence and obstructing aid efforts. U.S. State Department spokesperson Thomas Pigott emphasized that the crisis results from Hamas's actions and urged the group to return hostages and disarm to end the conflict. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar accused Hamas of deliberately creating friction at aid distribution sites and sabotaging negotiations, while the EU condemned the killing of civilians seeking aid and warned Israel about consequences if aid pledges are not met. Hamas, however, maintains that it is working urgently and responsibly to end the suffering and is engaged in consultations to reach an agreement to stop the aggression and achieve reconstruction goals. The hostage negotiations remain complicated, with Hamas demanding the release of convicted terrorist Marwan Barghouti, a demand Israel resists but which some argue could be a potential breakthrough if leveraged to secure the release of all hostages. President Donald Trump’s optimistic predictions about resolving the crisis have been criticized for inadvertently strengthening Hamas's position and prolonging the conflict.