President Trump insisted Thursday that the fastest way to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza was for Hamas to finally agree to a ceasefire with Israel. “The fastest way to end the

President Trump said on Thursday that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza will end if Hamas releases the hostages and surrenders. Why it matters: The comment from the president marks a change in tone from others he made in recent days that put the onus on Israel to improve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Arab and Muslim states including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have for the first time issued a joint call for Hamas to disarm and relinquish power in the Gaza Strip as part of efforts to end the war in the territory.

U.S. President Donald Trump believes that recognizing Palestinian statehood would be rewarding the militant group Hamas and he does not intend to do that, a White House official said on Wednesday, after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced his country's decision on the issue.

Britain said on Tuesday it would recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes steps to relieve suffering in Gaza, where starvation is spreading, and reaches a ceasefire in the nearly two-year war with Hamas.