Trump warns Hamas to release hostages immediately

Washington: US President Donald Trump has once again warned the Palestinian resistance group Hamas that it will have to pay a price if it does not release all the hostages held in Gaza.

Donald Trump threatened on Wednesday that Hamas leaders have one last chance to leave Gaza. He increased the pressure on Hamas to release the hostages.

Trump said in a statement on social media that it is time for Hamas to leave Gaza, this is the last warning, Hamas must release all the hostages held in Gaza immediately.

The US president warned that if Hamas does not release the hostages, it will have to pay a price.

Trump added that a beautiful future awaits the people of Gaza.

It is pertinent to note that the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire ended on Saturday, after which Israel unilaterally announced a temporary extension of the ceasefire on the condition that Hamas release more hostages without starting the second phase of the ceasefire.

However, Hamas refused to extend the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement at the Israeli demand.

Upon Hamas’s refusal, Israel blocked the entry of all kinds of goods, including food and drinks, into Gaza.

According to a foreign news agency, in the first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas in Gaza handed over 25 hostages and 8 bodies to Israel, in exchange for which Israel released approximately 1,800 Palestinian prisoners.

The report stated that Hamas had taken 251 people hostages in the attack on October 7, 2023, of whom 58 are still in Gaza, including 34 who have been declared dead by the Israeli army.

On Wednesday, the Palestinian resistance organization Hamas confirmed direct negotiations with the US for the release of the hostages.

According to a foreign news agency, a Hamas official—who requested anonymity—said that direct negotiations had been held with a US envoy for the release of the hostages.