Washington – President Trump published what he called a “last warning” to the terrorist group Hamas on Wednesday to release all the hostages still organized in Gaza, directing a message strongly formulated after the White House confirmed that he had recently sent an envoy for unprecedented direct interviews with the group. Trump, in a declaration on his social platform Truth shortly after his meeting at the White House with eight old hostages, added that he “sent Israel everything he needs to finish work”.
“Release all the hostages now, not later, and immediately return all the corpses of the people you have murdered, or it’s over for you,” he said. “Only sick and twisted people keep the body, and you are sick and twisted!”
Mr. Trump put an end to his message with a message he sent “directly to the inhabitants of Gaza”, many of which do not support Hamas, saying: “A beautiful future awaits, but not if you hold hostages. If you do, you are dead! Make an intelligent decision. Release the hostages now, or that there will be hell to pay later!”
Hamas said Thursday that Trump’s threats “encourage” Israel to ignore the conditions of the ceasefire.
“These threats complicate questions concerning the cease-fire agreement and encourage the occupation to avoid the implementation of his conditions,” said Hamas spokesman Hazem Qasim, in a statement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sworn to “open the doors of hell” If Hamas does not do it Return all his hostages.
The president’s sophisticated language came after the White House said on Wednesday that US officials have engaged in “discussion and current discussions” with Hamas officials, moving away from a long-standing American policy not to engage directly with terrorist groups designated by the United States. This is the first known direct commitment between the United States and Hamas since the State Department appointed the group a foreign terrorist organization in 1997.
Confirmation of talks in the Qatari capital of Doha came while the ceasefire of Israel-Hamas is at stake.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt refused to provide details on the substance of talks, but said Trump authorized his envoys to “talk to anyone”.
“Look, dialogue and talk to people around the world to do what is in the best interest of the American people is something that the president … believes that it is a good faith effort to do what is good for the American people,” she said.
Leavitt added that Israel was consulted about direct commitment with Hamas officials and noted that there are “American lives at stake”.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered recognition with American talks. “Israel has expressed in the United States its position concerning direct talks with Hamas,” said the Prime Minister’s office.
Egyptian intermediaries and Qatari were mediators with Hamas.
Israeli officials say about 24 living hostages – including Edan Alexander, an American citizen – as well as the bodies of at least 35 others are still in Gaza.
Adam Boehler, Trump’s candidate to be a special envoy for hostage affairs, led direct talks to Hamas. Boehler, founder and CEO of Rubicon Founders, a health care investment company, was a main negotiator in the Abraham agreements team during Mr. Trump’s first mandate, who tried to gain broader recognition from Israel in the Arab world.
The talks, which took place last month, focused mainly on the release of American hostages and a potential end of the war without Hamas in power in Gaza, according to a Hamas official who was not authorized to comment on publicly and spoke under the cover of anonymity.
The manager added that no progress had been made, but “the stage itself is promising” and other talks are expected. Egyptian mediators and Qatari helped organize talks.
Direct commitment comes as the continuation of the ceasefire of Israel-Hamas remains uncertain. Trump reported that he had no intention of repelling Netanyahu with a return to battle if Hamas does not accept the terms of a new proposal to ceasefire, which the Israelis presented as being written by American envoy Steve Witkoff.
The new plan would oblige Hamas to release half of its remaining hostages – the main negotiation broadcast of the terrorist group – in exchange for a cease -fire extension and a promise to negotiate a sustainable truce. Israel made no mention to publish more Palestinian prisoners, a key element of the first phase, which expired on Saturday.
Wednesday, Mr. Trump welcomed eight old hostages – Iair Horn, Omer Shem Tov, Eli Sharabi, Keith Siegel, Aviva Siegel, Naama Levy, Doron Steinbrecher and Noa Argamani – at the White House.
“The president listened to their heartbreaking stories carefully,” said Leavitt. “The hostages thanked President Trump for his constant efforts to bring all the hostages home.”
The talks between us and Hamas officials were reported for the first time by the Axios news site.
