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Donald Trump issued a stark warning that the U.S. would help destroy Hamas if leaders of the militant group didn’t leave Gaza and release their remaining Israeli hostages.
“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 wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday, after meeting with six hostages released under the recently expired ceasefire deal pausing the war.
“I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say,” he added, telling the group his post was a “last warning.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz had a similar message earlier this week, telling Hamas, “The gates of Gaza will be locked, and the gates of hell will open.”
The comments came as the initial stage of a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war expired over the weekend.
The U.S. has called on Hamas to accept an extension of the first stage, involving hostage releases, while Hamas has sought to negotiate other questions such as the post-war governance of Gaza.
In the meantime, Israel has paused aid entering into Gaza and threatened the militant group with “additional consequences” if it doesn’t come around to the U.S. proposal.
Israel’s decision to cut off aid to the already besieged civilian population of Gaza has prompted international criticism from the UK, France and Germany.
Foreign ministers from the three countries said in a statement on Wednesday that aid “should never be contingent on a ceasefire or used as a political tool”.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated with new information.
