President Trump has issued a stern warning to Hamas militants, urging them to immediately release all hostages held in Gaza or face severe consequences. In a forceful social media post, the President emphasized the importance of releasing the hostages and returning the remains of individuals killed by Hamas. He stated that failure to do so would have dire consequences for Hamas. Despite this warning, direct talks between the United States and Hamas have been ongoing in Qatar, while separate negotiations involving Hamas and Israel regarding the terms of a cease-fire continue. The Israeli government confirms that approximately 25 hostages and the remains of over 30 others are still in Gaza. Mr. Trump condemned Hamas as “sick and twisted” for keeping the bodies and declared that he is providing Israel with all the necessary support. He termed this warning as the group’s last opportunity, stating that continued captivity of hostages would result in their demise. Hamas initially seized around 250 hostages during the attack on Israel in October 2023, which sparked the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Although Israel has weakened Hamas through its military campaign, the organization still holds significant power. Previous cease-fires facilitated the release of over 100 hostages and the return of 30 others, along with the remains of eight individuals. However, the negotiations concerning a prisoner exchange and the details of the military aid provided by the United States to Israel remain unclear.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/world/middleeast/trump-hamas-warning-hostages-gaza.html