Trump issues ‘last warning’ to Hamas: "Release all hostages now"
text_fields
Washington: President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued what he called a “last warning” to Hamas to release all remaining hostages held in Gaza, following the White House’s confirmation that his administration had recently engaged in unprecedented direct talks with the militant group.
In a statement on his Truth Social platform, shortly after meeting with eight former hostages at the White House, Trump declared that he was “sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job.”
“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,” Trump stated. “Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!”
The White House confirmed Wednesday that U.S. officials have engaged in “ongoing talks and discussions” with Hamas officials, marking a departure from a longstanding U.S. policy of avoiding direct engagement with the group. The talks took place in Doha, Qatar, amid ongoing efforts to maintain an Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
This marks the first known direct engagement between the U.S. and Hamas since the State Department designated the group as a foreign terrorist organization in 1997. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to provide specific details about the discussions but emphasized that President Trump had authorized his envoys to “talk to anyone.”
“Dialogue and talking to people around the world to do what’s in the best interest of the American people is something the president believes is a good-faith effort,” Leavitt said. She also noted that Israel had been consulted about the direct talks, acknowledging that “American lives are at stake.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a brief response to the development, stating, “Israel has expressed to the United States its position regarding direct talks with Hamas.”
Israeli officials estimate that approximately 24 living hostages, including American citizen Edan Alexander, as well as the bodies of at least 35 others, are still being held in Gaza.
Leading the direct negotiations with Hamas was Adam Boehler, Trump’s nominee for special envoy for hostage affairs. Boehler, the founder and CEO of the healthcare investment firm Rubicon Founders, was a key figure in negotiating the Abraham Accords during Trump’s first term, which sought to expand Israel’s recognition in the Arab world.
The discussions, which took place last month, reportedly focused on securing the release of American hostages and exploring the potential for an end to the war without Hamas remaining in power in Gaza. A Hamas official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said no significant progress was made but called the step itself “promising,” indicating that more talks may follow. Egyptian and Qatari mediators played a role in facilitating the discussions.
Trump has made it clear that he has no intention of pressuring Netanyahu to avoid a return to combat if Hamas refuses to accept terms for a new ceasefire. The latest U.S.-backed proposal, said to be drafted by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, reportedly calls for Hamas to release half of the remaining hostages in exchange for a temporary ceasefire and further negotiations on a lasting truce. Unlike previous agreements, the proposal does not mention the release of Palestinian prisoners, a key demand of Hamas.
On Wednesday, Trump hosted eight former hostages at the White House, including Iair Horn, Omer Shem Tov, Eli Sharabi, Keith Siegel, Aviva Siegel, Naama Levy, Doron Steinbrecher, and Noa Argamani.
“The President listened intently to their heartbreaking stories,” Leavitt said. “The hostages thanked President Trump for his steadfast efforts to bring all of the hostages home.”
Keith Siegel, an Israeli-American who was released last month as part of the previous ceasefire, expressed gratitude to Trump and Witkoff for their efforts. “We urged them to continue their enormous efforts. They have done so much. We trust them and we know they will get the job done to get all the rest of the 59 remaining hostages held in Gaza back to their families,” Siegel said in a statement.
The direct talks between the U.S. and Hamas were first reported earlier on Wednesday by the news site Axios.
Separately, Leavitt, the White House press secretary, is one of three administration officials facing a lawsuit from The Associated Press, which alleges violations of First and Fifth Amendment rights. The AP claims that the officials are retaliating against the news agency for editorial decisions they oppose. The White House, however, argues that the AP is not following an executive order requiring references to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America."
With PTI inputs