US President Donald Trump issues ultimatum to Hamas
Washington, DC: In a final warning to Hamas, US President Donald Trump has called for the return of the dead remains of those who have been “murdered” by the group or declared that “it is over” for them, as well as the release of all captives.
Trump said that if the hostages are not released, not a single Hamas member would be safe and that the US is providing Israel whatever it needs to complete the task. He called on the Hamas leadership to leave Gaza as soon as possible.
“‘Shalom Hamas’ means Hello and Goodbye – You can choose,” Trump said in a post on X. It’s over for you if you don’t free all the hostages right away and return all the dead corpses of the persons you killed. You are sick and twisted, and only sick and twisted people maintain bodies! If you don’t follow my instructions, not a single Hamas member will be safe. I’m giving Israel everything it needs to complete the task.”
“I just met with your former Hostages whose lives you have destroyed,” he continued. This is your last caution! The moment has come for the leadership to leave Gaza while there is still hope. Additionally, to the people of Gaza: A bright future is ahead, but only if hostages are held. You’re dead if you do! Decide in a SMART manner. THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER IF THE HOSTAGES ARE NOT RELEASED NOW.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement on March 5 that Trump had met and heard the tragic tales of eight of the captives who had been freed from Gaza. Iair Horn, Omer Shem Tov, Eli Sharabi, Keith Siegel, Aviva Siegel, Naama Levy, Doron Steinbrecher, and Noa Argamani were among the captives that Trump met.
“President Trump met with eight of the captives who were freed from Gaza today. The President paid close attention to their tragic tales. According to Leavitt, the prisoners expressed gratitude to President Trump for his unwavering efforts to free them all.
According to The New York Times, two Israeli officials, a Western official, and a diplomat informed on the situation said that US and Hamas officials met in Qatar to discuss captives in the Gaza Strip. The diplomat claims that Adam Boehler, Trump’s choice for special envoy for hostage problems, attended the meeting with Hamas representatives this week.
Since they were not permitted to discuss the delicate diplomacy in public, all four officials spoke about the discussions under the condition of anonymity.
According to one of the Israeli officials and the Western official, the discussions at the meeting in Doha, Qatar, were centered on securing the release of Edan Alexander, the only Israeli American hostage thought to be alive, and the bodies of four other Israeli Americans who were taken hostage in Gaza on October 7, 2023, following an attack on Israel by Hamas, according to The New York Times.
Direct negotiations between the United States and Hamas were in progress, according to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. During the press conference on Wednesday, Leavitt said that Boehler, “who is engaged in those negotiations,” has “the authority to talk to anyone” when asked why the US government was having talks with Hamas.
Israel told the US its stance on the contacts after the White House revealed that the Trump administration has been having direct conversations with Hamas, but it did not provide any further information, according to The Times of Israel. “In our contacts with the US, Israel expressed its stance on direct talks with Hamas,” said the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
