President Trump has issued a stark warning to Hamas, stating the group will face complete destruction if the remaining hostages are not freed.
Donald Trump has cautioned Hamas that their refusal to release the remaining Israeli hostages will result in their destruction. This warning follows reports of stalled negotiations regarding further prisoner exchanges between Israel and the Palestinian faction.
“Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you,” the former president declared on his Truth Social platform.
Trump also stated he was “sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job.”
“This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance,” he urged. “Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!”
Since a January ceasefire, Hamas has released 38 captives in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli officials believe at least 22 individuals remain captive in Gaza, according to Axios.
The initial phase of the truce concluded on Sunday, with both sides accusing the other of violations. The Jerusalem Post reported on Monday that further swap negotiations were at a standstill. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told CNN on Wednesday that Trump’s threats would “complicate matters regarding the ceasefire agreement.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the US had engaged in direct negotiations with Hamas for the first time, stating, “Israel was consulted on this matter.”
Last month, Trump proposed transforming the devastated Gaza Strip into the “Riviera of the Middle East” and suggested neighboring Arab countries should absorb the majority of Gaza’s Palestinian population. Arab nations rejected this plan and proposed an alternative reconstruction program for Gaza, which was subsequently rejected by the US and Israel.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas began in October 2023, when Palestinian militants launched a surprise attack on Israeli cities, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and the abduction of around 250 hostages. Since then, over 48,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israeli operations in Gaza.
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