US President Donald Trump issued a stark ultimatum to Hamas, demanding the release of all hostages and warning of severe consequences if they are not returned. Trump reaffirmed US support for Israel, stating his administration would expedite weapons delivery as conflict escalates. He called on Hamas leaders to flee Gaza while they still can. Amid rising humanitarian concerns in Gaza, France, Britain, and Germany described the situation as catastrophic, urging Israel to facilitate aid access. In a shift, the US has engaged in direct talks with Hamas regarding hostages, amidst ongoing military actions and proposals for Gaza’s reconstruction, which face skepticism.
Washington:
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump warned of further destruction in Gaza if all remaining hostages are not released, issuing an ultimatum for Hamas leaders to flee.
As a ceasefire hangs in the balance, Trump expressed strong support for Israel, stating he was “providing Israel everything it requires to complete the mission” while his administration rushes billions of dollars in military aid.
“Release all Hostages now, not later, and immediately return the bodies of those you have killed, or it will be OVER for you,” he posted on his Truth Social platform following a meeting with released hostages.
“This is your final warning! Leadership, this is the time to leave Gaza while you still can.”
Trump also made it clear there would be significant consequences for Gaza’s entire population, which has largely been displaced due to Israel’s ongoing military response to the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas.
“To the People of Gaza: A bright future lies ahead, but not if you keep Hostages. If you do, your fate is sealed!”
His statements came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted at “consequences beyond your imagination” if Hamas fails to return the remaining hostages taken during the October 7 attack.
The initial phase of a ceasefire concluded over the weekend after six weeks of relative calm, during which Israeli hostages were exchanged for Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons.
While Israel has expressed a desire to extend the first phase until mid-April, Hamas has called for a shift to the second phase, which should pave the way for a lasting conclusion to the conflict.
However, Israel has intensified pressure by halting the entry of goods and supplies into Gaza, reverting to a strict approach that the previous US administration under Joe Biden had contested.
“Hamas has indeed sustained a serious setback, but it has not yet been defeated. The mission remains incomplete,” warned Israel’s new military chief Eyal Zamir on Wednesday.
France, Britain, and Germany jointly described the humanitarian situation in Gaza on Wednesday as “catastrophic,” urging Israel to guarantee the “unhindered” delivery of aid.
South Africa stated that Israel’s restriction on aid into Gaza since the weekend equated to employing starvation as a method of warfare.
– Talks with Hamas –
Trump’s aggressive rhetoric followed the United States’ confirmation of direct talks with Hamas, during which the US envoy on hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, addressed the issue of American hostages.
“Dialogue and engaging with people globally to serve the best interests of the American public is something the President firmly believes in,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The United States had previously refrained from direct communication with the Palestinian militants after designating them as a terrorist organization in 1997. However, Leavitt noted that the hostage envoy possesses the authority to engage with anyone.
Both the White House and Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Israel was consulted prior to these discussions.
It is believed that five Americans remain among the hostages. Four of them have been confirmed deceased, while one, Edan Alexander, is thought to still be alive.
The Hamas assault resulted in the deaths of 1,218 individuals, predominantly civilians, while Israel’s military response in Gaza has claimed at least 48,440 lives, also mostly civilians, according to data from both sides.
Out of the 251 individuals captured during Hamas’s attack, 58 are still in Gaza, including 34 confirmed dead by the Israeli military.
– Doubts on Arab plan –
Trump has proposed a plan to take control of the Gaza Strip and displace its inhabitants, a notion that has faced widespread condemnation across the globe.
Arab leaders have sought support for an alternative proposal aimed at financing Gaza’s reconstruction through a trust fund.
A draft of this plan, viewed by AFP, outlines a five-year strategy with an estimated cost of $53 billion—roughly the figure the United Nations has cited for Gaza’s reconstruction. However, this figure was not included in the final statement of the summit.
The summit also called for unified representation under the Palestine Liberation Organization to exclude Islamist Hamas.
Hugh Lovatt, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, remarked that the new plan is “far more realistic than the proposals put forth by the Trump administration in terms of operational feasibility.”
In contrast, Ghassan Khatib, a Palestinian political analyst and former Palestinian Authority minister, expressed skepticism regarding the viability of the plan, highlighting the lack of financing details and the political obstacles it would encounter.
“It’s unrealistic to expect Israel to abandon the Trump plan in favor of the Arab proposal. There’s no chance of that happening.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)