Trump's Renewed Warning to Hamas About the Consequences of Not Releasing Hostages

Donald Trump, the elected President of the United States, referring to his 'very good conversation' with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, about the Gaza war, warned once again that if Hamas does not release its hostages by January 20 (February 1), the start of his presidency, there will be severe consequences. On Monday, December 26, during a press conference in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump stated, 'As you know, I warned that if these hostages are not home by that date, there will be severe consequences.' He also warned that failure to reach a ceasefire agreement before the start of his presidency would face an 'unpleasant' reaction. On December 12, Trump had warned in a message on his social media account 'Truth Social' that if individuals taken hostage in the Middle East are not freed before his presidential inauguration on February 1, those 'responsible for these crimes' will face severe consequences. The elected President of the United States specified: 'Those responsible for these actions will suffer such a severe blow that it will be unprecedented in the long and distinguished history of the United States.' Jake Sullivan, the U.S. National Security Advisor, recently announced that regional changes, including the fall of the Assad regime, a ceasefire in Lebanon, and the killing of Hamas leaders by Israel, have created conditions for an agreement between Hamas and Israel. During the terrorist attack on October 7 (October 15) last year by Hamas against Israel, more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed, and over 250 others, including women, children, and the elderly, were taken hostage. While about 100 hostages were exchanged for Palestinian prisoners during a temporary ceasefire late last fall, around 100 remain in Hamas captivity, and reports indicate that some of them have been killed. In recent months, negotiations for the release of hostages have been complicated. The three-phase framework proposed by Israel earlier this spring was supported by the U.S. and mediators, but the request from some families of hostages for the immediate release of all 100 hostages has challenged these negotiations.