Trump Issues Warning to Hamas Over Hostages
President Donald Trump has issued a “final warning” to Hamas regarding their hostages, urging them to accept his deal or risk facing consequences. In his statement, he expressed that everyone desires an end to the conflict and that the Israeli side has already agreed to his terms. “It’s time to accept Hamas as well,” he remarked.
Trump emphasized that he had previously warned Hamas about the potential fallout of not complying with his demands. This, he insisted, is his last warning. He expressed gratitude for the attention this issue has garnered.
Last month, Trump stated that the remaining hostages would only be returned when Hamas was “facing and destroyed.” Hamas had expressed doubts about progress in ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
The White House has called for the safe return of all Gaza hostages “this week,” as discussions remain stagnant.
In July, US and Israeli negotiators withdrew from talks in Qatar after it was suggested that Hamas was not negotiating sincerely, pointing to a lack of desire for a ceasefire.
On August 26, a Trump envoy mentioned the urgency of securing the release of hostages. He noted that while there had been contracts on the table in previous weeks, Hamas’s reluctance has stymied progress.
Witkov did not elaborate on the delays in returning the hostages, now nearly two years post the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Currently, fifty hostages remain with Hamas, of which only twenty are believed to still be alive.
Trump had previously predicted a “decisive” conclusion to the conflict in Gaza within two to three weeks, though he did not detail how this would be accomplished.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underscored that a comprehensive ceasefire that ensures the return of hostages and meets Israeli conditions is the only acceptable solution.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are preparing for further operations in Gaza, focusing on Hamas targets. IDF spokesperson advised residents in certain Gaza areas to evacuate ahead of anticipated military actions, providing maps of the locations marked for strikes due to the presence of Hamas infrastructure.
