US President Donald Trump has issued what he said was a “last warning” to Hamas to release all of the hostages in Gaza immediately.
“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,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday, soon after meeting eight freed hostages at the White House.
Trump wrote that he would send Israel “everything it needs to finish the job,” and warned that “Not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say.”
He further says, "Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted! I have just met with your former Hostages whose lives you have destroyed. This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance. Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!"
The comments came just hours after the US confirmed reports that it was negotiating directly with Hamas about hostages and the Gaza ceasefire, in a move that goes against its tradition of not talking to groups it considers terrorist organisations.
The US, which designated Hamas as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation in 1997, traditionally does not speak with terrorist organisations, though there have been exceptions – both the Obama and Trump administrations negotiated with the Taliban, which was designated a terrorist organisation in the wake of 9/11.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said it had “expressed to the United States its position regarding direct talks with Hamas.” It, however, did not make clear whether Israel had advance knowledge of the talks. Neither did the statement make clear what Israel’s position was (with inputs from AP/PTI).
A top Israeli diplomat appeared to reference the talks in an interview with Fox Business.
“Instead of putting Israel under pressure, President (Donald) Trump is putting Hamas under pressure and this is the right thing to do,” Ofir Akunis, Israel’s consul general in New York, said.
“If the White House wants to talk directly to Hamas and put them under pressure to release more hostages, we will be very happy to see more hostages with their families and in Israel,” he said in his comments on Truth Social, Trump also addressed the people of Gaza directly, saying “a beautiful future awaits, but not if you hold hostages”.
Hamas warned Trump’s comments on Wednesday threatened to undermine the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal.
CNN quotes Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem saying the remarks would “complicate matters regarding the ceasefire agreement” and embolden Israel’s government to avoid implementing the deal.
Qassem said Hamas had fulfilled its first-phase obligations under the US-brokered agreement and that the Israeli government was “evading negotiations for the second phase.”
He urged the US to pressure Israel into entering the second phase, “as stipulated in the agreement.”
On Sunday, a day after the first phase expired, Israel blocked humanitarian aid into Gaza, in response to Hamas rejecting a new Israeli proposal to extend the ceasefire without any commitment to end the war or fully withdraw troops.