Palestinian militant group Hamas has responded to Donald Trump's warning to release all hostages and leave Gaza, saying that the US President was allowing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to back out of the ceasefire agreement.
Hamas said Trump's repeated threats against Palestinians constituted support for Netanyahu and aimed to intensify the ongoing siege and starvation of the people of Gaza.
This comes hours after the US confirmed that it had engaged in direct negotiations with Hamas for the release of the remaining Israeli hostages taken captive on 7 October 2023.
Adam Boehler, Trump's nominee as the special envoy for hostage affairs, led the direct talks with Hamas. Boehler, founder and CEO of Rubicon Founders, a healthcare investment firm, was a lead negotiator on the Abraham Accords team during Trump's first term that strove to win broader recognition of Israel in the Arab world.
An unnamed Hamas official told AP that the talks took place last month and focused mainly on the release of American hostages and a potential end to the war without Hamas in power in Gaza.
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump issued what he called a ¡°last warning¡± to Hamas to release all remaining hostages held in Gaza.
¡°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 said on Truth Social. ¡°Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted,¡± he added.
"This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza while you still have a chance," Trump said, adding that he was "sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job."
The US President further warned that there would be repercussions for Gaza as a whole if the hostages taken by Hamas were not freed.
"To the People of Gaza: A beautiful future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!," he said.
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