Four of the 59 captives that Hamas still has in Gaza were returned last week. Israeli authorities believe that 24 of the 59 are still alive.
In what he described as a “final warning,” US President Donald Trump urged Hamas to promptly free all of the hostages in Gaza. Hours after the White House announced it was engaging in direct negotiations with the militant organization, the action was taken.
“It’s over for you if you don’t release all of the hostages right away and return all of the dead bodies of the people you killed.” You are sick and twisted, and only sick and twisted people maintain bodies! Trump stated in a press release.
Trump declared that “not a single Hamas member will be safe” if the organization did not follow the US President’s directives and that he would provide Israel “everything it needs to finish the job.”
“You devastated the lives of your former hostages, whom I just met. This is your final caution! The moment has come for the leadership to leave Gaza while there is still hope. Additionally, to the people of Gaza: A bright future is ahead, but only if hostages are held. “You are dead if you do!” he continued.
Notably, the United States has prohibited conversations with Hamas and other foreign terrorist organizations since 1997. The only exception to this policy is the Taliban, with whom both the Obama and Trump administrations held talks.
US-Hamas Discussions
In order to secure American hostages, a US envoy had direct conversations with Hamas, the White House confirmed Wednesday. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, “Israel was consulted on this matter, and 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” feels is proper.
Israel accepted a US proposal earlier this week to temporarily prolong a truce in Gaza during Ramadan and Passover. Hamas, meanwhile, has repeatedly refused to extend the first phase of the truce and insisted on going to the second. Trump has supported Israel’s demand that Gaza be fully “de-militarized” prior to the second phase of the truce, which would involve the “exile” of Hamas and Palestinian Jihad.
Four of the 59 captives that Hamas still has in Gaza were returned last week. Israeli authorities believe that 24 of the 59 are still alive.
