U.S. PRESIDENT Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to Hamas, demanding the militant group release all hostages by noon on Saturday, or face a suspension of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and "let hell break out."
In a Monday briefing with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump expressed growing frustration over the situation in Gaza, specifically with the slow pace of hostage releases and Hamas’ recent announcement that it would halt further releases.
Trump emphasised that the hostages should be freed en masse, rather than in small groups, and set a firm deadline for their return.
"As far as I'm concerned, if all of the hostages aren't returned by Saturday at 12 o'clock, I think it's an appropriate time. I would say, cancel it and all bets are off," Reuters reported him saying, referring to the ongoing ceasefire agreement.
He added that if Hamas fails to comply, he would consider taking strong action, which he implied would lead to a significant escalation of violence in the region.
While Trump acknowledged that Israel might seek to override his position on the matter, he indicated that he was prepared to engage directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to push for a swift resolution.
"We want them all back," Trump reiterated, stressing the urgency of the situation.
In addition to his comments on the hostages, Trump also signalled a tough stance on Middle Eastern countries that might refuse to take in Palestinian refugees.
He suggested that the U.S. could withhold financial aid from Jordan and Egypt if they do not agree to resettle Palestinians displaced from Gaza.
Trump is scheduled to meet with Jordan’s King Abdullah on Tuesday, where these issues are likely to be discussed further.
Trump's comments come amid ongoing confusion regarding his controversial proposal for a U.S.-led takeover of Gaza once the fighting subsides.
Trump suggested that Palestinians displaced by the conflict would not be allowed to return to Gaza under his plan, contradicting earlier statements from his administration, which had indicated that the relocation would only be temporary.
Instead, Trump proposed resettling Palestinians in Jordan and Egypt, offering those nations financial incentives in the form of U.S. aid.
“We give them billions and billions of dollars a year,” Trump said, suggesting that the U.S. could leverage this funding to facilitate the resettlement of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents.
Trump's remarks regarding the permanent displacement of Palestinians were met with swift condemnation.
He stated that displaced Palestinians would be offered "much better housing" in their new homes, as opposed to returning to Gaza, which he claimed would take years to rebuild into a habitable environment.
"I'm talking about building a permanent place for them," he explained, referring to his vision of creating a new settlement for Palestinians in neighbouring countries.
This proposal to resettle Palestinians and place Gaza under U.S. control has been met with widespread rejection from both Gaza residents and Arab nations.
Critics have labelled the plan as a form of ethnic cleansing, and human rights organizations, as well as the United Nations, have strongly condemned the suggestion.
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri called Trump’s proposal "irresponsible," warning that it could escalate tensions and destabilize the region further. "We affirm that such plans are capable of igniting the region," Abu Zuhri stated in an interview with Reuters.
Trump’s suggestion was first made public during a meeting with Netanyahu in Washington on February 4, where he proposed turning Gaza into what he described as the "Riviera of the Middle East" by redeveloping it with U.S. oversight.
However, both Palestinian leaders and international bodies have rejected the idea, asserting that it undermines the rights of Palestinians and their long-standing aspirations for self-determination. – February 11, 2025
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