3 minute read
US President Donald Trump issued what he said was a “last warning” to Hamas to release all of the hostages in Gaza immediately – in a move that came just hours after the White House confirmed it was negotiating directly with the militant group, CNN reports.
“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 posted on Truth Social on Wednesday, soon after meeting eight freed hostages at the White House.
Trump wrote that he would send Israel “everything it needs to finish the job,” and warned that “Not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say.”
The United States, which designated Hamas as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 1997, traditionally does not speak with terrorist organizations, though there have been exceptions – both the Obama and Trump administrations negotiated with the Taliban, which was designated a terrorist organization in the wake of 9/11, CNN reported.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked Wednesday why the US was negotiating “directly and for the first time ever with Hamas.”
“When it comes to the negotiations that you’re referring to, first of all, the special envoy who’s engaged in those negotiations does have the authority to talk to anyone,” she said, referring to Trump’s pick for hostage envoy, Adam Boehler.
“Israel was consulted on this matter, and look, dialogue and talking to people around the world to do what’s in the best interest of the American people is something that the president has proven is what he believes is (a) good faith effort to do what’s right for the American people,” Leavitt added.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said it had “expressed to the United States its position regarding direct talks with Hamas.”
The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.
At least 48,440 people have been killed in Gaza since then, the BBC reported citing the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
Israel says there are still 59 hostages being held in Gaza, with up to 24 believed to be alive.
"Two direct meetings" have taken place between Hamas and a US official, "preceded by several communications", a Palestinian source told the BBC.
News of the talks was first reported by Axios, which said the two sides were meeting in Qatar to discuss the release of US hostages as well as a wider deal to end the war.