President-elect Donald Trump on Monday issued a tough ultimatum to Hamas, calling for the immediate release of hostages abducted in the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel.
Approximately 1,200 civilians were tragically killed and 8,700 injured in Hamas's brutal attack. The extremist group kidnapped hundreds of hostages, including young children, women, and the elderly.
“Those responsible will be hit harder than anyone in the long and storied history of the United States.”
On Monday, the Israeli Defense Forces announced Omer Neutra, 21, a dual American-Israeli citizen who was previously believed to be a hostage, was actually killed in the October 7 attack.
The three hostages are believed to have been Eden Alexander, 21; Keith Siegel, 65 years old. And Sagi Dekel Chen, 35, is still alive and in Hamas custody more than a year later.
The terrorist organization released the following propaganda video on Saturday: showed Alexander is alive and, despite threats, called on President Trump to “use your influence and the full power of the United States to negotiate our freedoms.” The video warned that “time is running out.”
Trump wrote: post In Truth Social, “Everyone's talking about hostages in the Middle East being held against the will of the entire world in a very violent, inhumane way, but it's all talk and no action. !”
“Please let this truth be known: If the hostages are not released by January 20, 2025, the day I am proudly sworn in as President of the United States, there will be hell in the Middle East. Those responsible for committing these atrocities against humanity,” President Trump declared.
“Those responsible will be hit harder than anyone in the long history of the United States. Release the hostages now!” he demanded.
In October, the Israeli government confirmed it had killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, one of the masterminds of last year's attack.
Over the weekend, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said: said “Confront the state,” he said, saying he believed terrorist organizations were “feeling the pressure.”
“They're feeling the pressure because Hezbollah, one of their major partners in crime here, has signed a cease-fire,” Sullivan said. “They are of course feeling pressured by the killing of their supreme leader, Mr. Shinwar, so they may be revisiting the possibility of a ceasefire and a hostage agreement.”
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