U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said the Hamas militant group had become difficult to deal with in recent days, but he was talking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about "various plans" to free hostages still held in the enclave.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday his government was considering “alternative options” to ceasefire talks with Hamas after Israel and the U.S. recalled their negotiating teams, throwing the future of the negotiations into further uncertainty.

Asked if he believed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claim that there is no starvation crisis in the strip, Trump replied, "I don't know," and then mentioned images of starving children in Gaza appearing on TV.