Trump gives Hamas ‘inauguration’ deadline, says ‘all hell will break out’ if hostages not released by Jan 20

US President-elect Donald Trump has repeated his warning to the Palestinian armed group Hamas asking it to release Israeli and other hostages before his inauguration on January 20, when he will officially become the 47th President of the United States.

Hamas had taken more than 250 hostages when it raided Israeli territory in October 2023. More than 1,200 people were killed during the Hamas raid. It has released some of the hostages in the intervening period. It is estimated that about 100 people are still the captivity of Hamas in Gaza.

Trump said, “All hell will break out. If those hostages aren’t back, I don’t want to hurt your negotiation, but if they’re not back by the time I take office, all hell will break out in the Middle East [West Asia].”

He made these comments during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida on Tuesday.

“I don’t need to say more, it’s clear. They should have returned them long ago — they never should have taken them in the first place. The attack on October 7th should never have happened. People tend to forget that, but it did, and many lives were lost,” Trump said.

He said, “They are no longer hostages. I’ve received calls from people in Israel and others, begging me for help. We also had people from the United States there, just so you know. Some of them are holding so-called hostages from the US, and I’ve had parents come to me, crying, asking if I can bring their son or daughter’s body back.”

The president-elect’s statement came in response to a question regarding the status of negotiations with Hamas concerning the release of American hostages.

Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steven Charles Witkoff, who had recently returned from the region, also informed reporters that they were close to a resolution.

“I believe we’ve been on the verge of it. I don’t want to discuss sort of what’s delayed it, no point to be negative in any way. But I think it’s the president, his stature, what he’s said he expects, the red lines he’s put out there, that’s driving this negotiation,” Witkoff said.

Situation volatile in Gaza

The situation in Gaza has remained volatile since the Israeli invasion, after the deadly October 7 attack in 2023, which has led to a growing humanitarian crisis.

The conflict between Hamas and Israel has been ongoing for years, which intensified after a surprise attack by Hamas on southern Israel in October 2023.

Efforts to broker a ceasefire continues

Efforts to broker a ceasefire have continued, with both sides facing pressure from international players, including the United States.

The conflict has claimed over 40,000 lives as of late 2024, and negotiations for a ceasefire have encountered several challenges, especially concerning the release of hostages and the terms of a potential truce.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is critical, marked by widespread destruction and severe shortages of essential supplies.

Source » firstpost.com