Washington DC [US], March 6 (HBTV): US President Donald Trump has issued a final warning to Hamas, demanding the release of all hostages and the return of the bodies of those who were 'murdered' or face severe consequences.
Trump stated that the US is providing Israel with everything it requires to complete its mission and warned that no Hamas member will be safe if the hostages are not released. He also urged Hamas leadership to leave Gaza while they still have a chance.
In a post on X, Trump stated: ‘"Shalom Hamas" means Hello and Goodbye - You can choose. Release all of the hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted! I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don't do as I say.’
He further added: ‘I have just met with your former hostages whose lives you have destroyed. This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza while you still have a chance. Also, to the people of Gaza: A beautiful future awaits, but not if you hold hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!’
On March 5, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that Trump had met eight hostages released from Gaza and listened to their stories.
‘Today, President Trump took time to meet with eight of the released hostages from Gaza. The President listened intently to their heartbreaking stories. The hostages thanked President Trump for his steadfast efforts to bring all of the hostages home,’ Leavitt stated.
The hostages included Iair Horn, Omer Shem Tov, Eli Sharabi, Keith Siegel, Aviva Siegel, Naama Levy, Doron Steinbrecher, and Noa Argamani.
Meanwhile, officials from the US and Hamas held a meeting in Qatar regarding the hostages in Gaza, The New York Times reported, citing two Israeli officials, a Western official, and a diplomat briefed on the matter. According to the diplomat, Trump’s nominee for special envoy for hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, participated in the discussions.
The talks in Doha reportedly focused on securing the release of Edan Alexander, the only Israeli-American hostage still believed to be alive, as well as the bodies of four other Israeli-Americans taken hostage on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt did not deny that direct talks between the US and Hamas were ongoing. When asked during a press briefing on Wednesday why the US administration was engaging with Hamas, she stated that Boehler, ‘who is engaged in those negotiations,’ had ‘the authority to talk to anyone.’
Following confirmation that the Trump administration has been holding direct talks with Hamas, Israel expressed its stance to the US but did not disclose further details. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated: ‘In our contacts with the US, Israel expressed its stance on direct talks with Hamas.’
(ANI)