Former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to Hamas, stating that the group will face severe consequences if it does not release all hostages held in Gaza.
In a statement on Wednesday, Trump pressured Hamas to act, calling it the group’s “last chance” to leave Gaza. He demanded the immediate release of all captives, emphasizing that failure to comply would come at a high cost.
“Hamas must leave Gaza now. This is the final warning. All hostages must be freed immediately,” Trump declared on social media.
He also claimed that a “beautiful future” awaits the people of Gaza, hinting at potential rebuilding efforts post-conflict.
The warning comes as the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire ended over the weekend. Israel had unilaterally extended the truce on the condition that Hamas release more hostages before entering a second phase of negotiations. However, Hamas rejected Israel’s demand, leading to a blockade on essential supplies, including food and water, into Gaza.
According to international reports, during the first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas released 25 hostages and handed over the bodies of eight others in exchange for the release of approximately 1,800 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody.
Hamas originally took 251 hostages in its October 7, 2023, attack, of which 58 are still in Gaza. Among them, 34 have already been declared dead by Israeli authorities.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Hamas confirmed that it had engaged in direct negotiations with a U.S. envoy regarding the hostages’ release, as revealed by an anonymous Hamas official to a foreign news agency.
