United States (US) President Donald Trump has urged Hamas to immediately release the Israeli hostages, stressing that global sentiment favours their freedom as well as an end to the ongoing war.
He said that Israel has already accepted the conditions placed before it, leaving it up to Hamas to respond in kind.
Issuing a stern warning, Trump cautioned that if Hamas refused to comply, it would face serious consequences. He added that this would be his last warning, with no further notices to follow.
The US president expressed optimism that an agreement concerning Gaza could be reached soon.
noted that Hamas is currently holding about 20 people alive along with 38 bodies.
Speaking on other matters, Trump praised the strength of US-South Korea relations and voiced concern over the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
He said he planned to engage in talks with the Russian president soon and regretted the loss of nearly 7,000 lives every week in that war.
President Trump also recalled that the US had previously succeeded in halting seven global wars that once seemed impossible to stop, allowing the concerned parties to now live in relative peace.
Reacting to the statement, Hamas confirmed that it had received certain proposals through mediators and said it was reviewing the American suggestions regarding a possible ceasefire.