Trump: US-Hamas talks ‘helping Israel because we’re talking about Israeli hostages’

US President Donald Trump defends his administration’s unprecedented direct negotiations with Hamas, saying, “We are helping Israel in those discussions because we’re talking about Israeli hostages.”

Israel, however, is opposed to the direct US negotiations with Hamas, an official familiar with the matter told The Times of Israel earlier Thursday.

Speaking to reporters while signing executive orders in the Oval Office, Trump says, “We’re not doing anything in terms of Hamas. We’re not giving cash.”

“You have to negotiate. There’s a difference between negotiating and paying. We want to get these people out,” Trump says.

Reflecting on his meetings with a group of eight released hostages Wednesday, Trump says he couldn’t believe their stories about how poorly they were treated in captivity.

“They want to know if we could just continue” with the release of additional hostages, Trump says.

“We have 59 left — of which 24 are living. The rest are dead… Those 24 who are living… they said they’re in very bad shape.”

“I put out a statement that’s self-explanatory,” Trump says, referring to the ultimatum he issued for Hamas to immediately release the remaining hostages or face destruction. “Somebody’s going to have to get a lot rougher than they’re getting. It’s a shame.”

“We want to get these people out. If you would have seen the people yesterday… the way they spoke about their captivity, it was unbelievable. It’s terrible.”

Asked about the Arab rejection of his plan to relocate all of Gaza’s residents, Trump avoids responding directly.

“Gaza could be good, but it’s got to be run properly. Right now, Gaza is an absolute mess, and it has been for many, many years and decades,” Trump says.