Trump demanded that Hamas release the hostages

US President Donald Trump met with a group of those released under the Gaza ceasefire agreement at the White House.

“Release all hostages now, not later, return the bodies of all those you have killed immediately, or you will be finished. [...] I will give Israel all the means to finish the job, and no member of Hamas will be safe until you do what I say,” he wrote on his Truth Social network.

“This is your final warning! As for the [Hamas] leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza if you can. "I also appeal to the people of Gaza: you have a wonderful future ahead of you, but not in a position to hold hostages. If you continue like this, you will die. Make a wise decision. Release the hostages now, or you will pay the price for hell later," he added.

This is not the first threat by Trump to Hamas. When Hamas threatened to stop releasing the hostages in early February, Trump said that "real hell would begin" for them if they did.

At the time, Hamas officials said that talking about threats was pointless and would only complicate the situation.

Earlier, the White House confirmed that the United States was holding talks with Hamas on the hostages. White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt said that consultations were held before the talks with Israel began.

According to BBC sources, two meetings took place between Hamas and US representatives. The correspondent of the publication, Paul Adams, noted that these contacts can be called unusual, but unprecedented. The United States has not directly cooperated with Hamas, which Washington declared a terrorist group in 1997.

According to the agency, another meeting was held with representatives of the Biden administration in April of last year to discuss the issue of the American hostage.

^{A Hamas member and a Red Cross worker during the release of hostages in Rafah, February 22}
According to the Israeli side, 59 people are still being held hostage in Gaza, at least 24 of whom are reported to have died. Among the hostages are several US citizens.

The Washington delegation's talks with Hamas were first reported by Axios, which said the two sides met in Qatar to discuss the fate of the prisoners, as well as a broader agreement to end the war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said it had "stated its position" on the talks, but gave no further details. Follow “Zamin” news on “Telegram”