US President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued a stern warning to Hamas, stating that if hostages are not released, Gaza is “dead.”
Trump threatened further destruction of Gaza and issued an ultimatum to Hamas leaders to flee.
He said he is “sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job” while expediting billions of dollars in weapons.
“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,” he wrote in a post on the Truth Social platform after meeting freed hostages.
“This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza while you still have a chance.”
Israel’s relentless military campaign, in response to the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas, has displaced the entire population of Gaza.
“To the people of Gaza: A beautiful future awaits, but not if you hold hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!”
US holds talk with Hamas
Trump’s warning came after the US confirmed rare direct talks with Hamas, where US hostage envoy Adam Boehler discussed American hostages.
“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,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
The United States had refused direct contact with the Palestinian militants since designating them as a terrorist organisation in 1997. However, Leavitt stated that the hostage envoy “has the authority to talk to anyone.”
‘Consequences that you cannot imagine’: Netanyahu
His comments follow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s warning of “consequences that you cannot imagine” if Hamas does not release the remaining hostages taken during the October 7 attack.
First phase of ceasefire gets over
The first phase of a ceasefire ended over the weekend after six weeks of relative calm, during which Israeli hostages were exchanged for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Advertisement
Five Americans are believed to remain among the hostages, with four of them are confirmed dead.
The Hamas’ assault during the October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, most of them civilians. This led Israel to start its campaign in Gaza with its military retaliation in Gaza has killed at least 48,440 people, also mostly civilians, according to data from both sides.
Of the 251 captives taken during Hamas’s attack, 58 remain in Gaza, including 34 whom the Israeli military has confirmed dead.
Arab nations counter Trump Gaza plan
Trump has suggested taking control of the Gaza Strip and removing its population, an idea that has faced strong global criticism.
In response, Arab leaders have put forward an alternative plan to fund Gaza’s reconstruction through a trust fund.
Advertisement
According to a draft reviewed by AFP, the plan outlines a five-year roadmap with an estimated cost of $53 billion, the same amount the UN projected for rebuilding Gaza. However, this figure was left out of the summit’s final statement.
The summit also called for a unified Palestinian leadership under the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) to weaken Hamas’s influence.
Content retrieved from: https://www.firstpost.com/world/trump-warns-gaza-you-are-dead-as-us-holds-unprecedented-talks-with-hamas-for-hostage-release-13869099.html.
