Crude oil prices climbed on Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump warned Hamas that it must accept his plan to end the Gaza conflict or face severe consequences. This development overshadowed the impact of OPEC+'s upcoming decision on crude oil production.
WTI crude futures gained 0.7%, closing near $61 per barrel, though they posted a cumulative decline of 7.4% for the week. Trump set a Sunday night deadline for Hamas to accept his proposal. The president also stated earlier that if Hamas rejects the agreement, Israel would have his "full support" in destroying the militant group.
Trump's statements intensified concerns about a broader conflict that could disrupt oil supplies from the Middle East.
Additionally, Ukraine claimed to have launched an attack on Russia's Orsk refinery near the Kazakhstan border.
However, these factors were insufficient to lift prices from their doldrums. Oil prices fell on four out of the past five trading days as markets anticipated that OPEC+ would discuss accelerating production increases. Meanwhile, the U.S. government's efforts to maintain smooth crude oil exports from northern Iraq, along with concerns over a potential government shutdown, added to bearish sentiment.
November-delivery WTI crude in New York rose 0.7% to close at $60.88 per barrel.
December Brent crude posted a modest gain of 0.7%, settling at $64.53 per barrel.