Washington (Web Desk/Agencies): President of the United States (US) Donald Trump on Wednesday issued a stern warning, threatening further destruction in Gaza unless all remaining hostages are released, the international media reported.
In a statement on his Truth Social platform, Trump demanded, "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."
"This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance," he said.
Trump’s remarks were made after meeting with released hostages, and he reinforced his commitment to Israel, stating that he was “sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job,” while his administration sped up the delivery of billions of dollars in weapons.
Trump also delivered a message to the people of Gaza, saying, "A beautiful future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are dead!"
His comments echoed the warnings of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also emphasized the dire consequences Hamas would face if they did not release the hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 attack.
The ceasefire that had been in place for six weeks recently ended, with the first phase of the ceasefire concluding over the weekend. This phase included exchanges of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
While Israel has expressed a desire to extend the ceasefire until mid-April, Hamas insists on a transition to the second phase, which would pave the way for a more lasting ceasefire.
In the meantime, Israel has ramped up pressure on Gaza by halting the flow of goods and supplies. "Hamas has indeed suffered a severe blow, but it has not yet been defeated. The mission is not yet accomplished," warned Israel’s new military chief, Eyal Zamir, on Wednesday.
At the same time, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has drawn international concern. France, Britain, and Germany jointly labeled the situation as "catastrophic" and urged Israel to ensure the "unhindered" delivery of aid.
South Africa, meanwhile, accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war, with Gaza residents complaining about a lack of drinking water and waste disposal.
"We lack drinking water. People are complaining of lack of water in general. We cannot get rid of the waste, which affects the groundwater," said Abu Hammam al-Hasanat, a 34-year-old resident of Gaza.
Amid these tensions, the US confirmed unprecedented indirect talks with Hamas, despite having long regarded the group as a terrorist organization.
Adam Boehler, the US envoy on hostage affairs, discussed American hostages in these negotiations.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, "Look, dialogue and talking to people around the world to do what’s in the best interest of the American people is something that the president believes is right."
She added that the hostage envoy "has the authority to talk to anyone." Although the US has refused direct contact with Hamas since 1997, both the White House and Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Israel was consulted in advance regarding these discussions.
Currently, five Americans are believed to still be held hostage, with four confirmed dead.
One, Edan Alexander, is thought to be alive. The October 7 attack claimed the lives of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, while Israeli military retaliations in Gaza have killed at least 48,440 people, also primarily civilians, according to both sides’ data. Of the 251 captives taken by Hamas during the attack, 58 remain in Gaza, with 34 confirmed dead by the Israeli military.
In a related interview, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored the seriousness of Trump’s threats, stating, "He doesn’t say these things and not mean it, as folks are finding out around the world. If he says he’s going to do something, he’ll do it."
Trump had earlier proposed taking control of the Gaza Strip and displacing its population, a plan that has been widely condemned around the world.
Meanwhile, Arab leaders have backed an alternative proposal to finance Gaza’s reconstruction through a trust fund. The Arab summit also called for unified representation under the Palestine Liberation Organization to sideline Hamas.
Hugh Lovatt from the European Council on Foreign Relations labeled the Arab leaders’ plan as "far more realistic than what the Trump administration is proposing," while Ghassan Khatib, a Palestinian political analyst, was doubtful, stating, "It doesn’t make sense to expect Israel to drop the plan of Trump and to adopt the plan of the Arabs. There’s no chance."
Following a UN Security Council meeting on Gaza’s future, French diplomat Jay Dharmadhikari emphasized that any final plan must ensure Israel’s security and avoid displacing Palestinians from Gaza while excluding Hamas from governance.
"We are clear that any plan must have no role for Hamas, must ensure Israel’s security, must not displace Palestinians from Gaza," Dharmadhikari said.
