Trump issues ‘last warning’ to Hamas over Israeli hostage release | Global News Avenue

U.S. President Donald Trump sent what he called a “final warning” to Hamas to release the hostages in Gaza.

“I’m sending Israel to get everything you need to do if you don’t, if you don’t do that, if you don’t, you won’t be safe,” Trump said in a lengthy post on his Truth Social Platform.

Hours after the White House confirmed it was in direct negotiations with Hamas on hostages.

Washington has so far avoided direct interaction with the organization, and for a long time, the United States has opposed direct contact with listed terrorist organizations.

Trump said in his social media post that if the hostages were not released, it would be “hell” without specifying the nature of his support to send Israel.

He added: “Now no longer releases all hostages later and return all bodies of the person you were murdered immediately, otherwise it is over.”

“For leaders, it’s time to leave Gaza and you still have a chance.”

He also seems to threaten civilians: “And, for the people of Gaza: a bright future awaits, but if you take the hostage. If you do, you’re dead!”

This is not the first time Trump threatens Hamas. He said in December that there will be “full payments” If he did not release the hostages when he took office.

The post was published after Trump encountered a group of hostages at the White House, who were recently released under a ceasefire.

Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the United States has been in talks with Hamas to ensure the release of the hostages.

She added that Israel had been consulted before the negotiations.

Levitt told reporters that President Trump believes in doing things that are in the best interests of the American people.

She added that Adam Boehler’s work, as a hostage envoy, is “a sincere effort to do the right thing for the American people.”

A Palestinian source told the BBC that there were “two direct meetings” between Hamas and U.S. officials.

Israel said there are still 59 hostages in Gaza and as many as 24 people are believed to be alive. American citizens are also prisoners.

Negotiation news First reported by AxiosThis shows that the two sides met in Qatar to discuss the release of American hostages and a broader agreement to end the war.

The Secretary of Defense of the Middle East, former deputy assistant assistant secretary, said the United States needs to bring its citizens back “more actively”.

Mick Mulroy, also a former CIA paramilitary official, added: “This may allow the Israelis to return citizens if not closely coordinated”.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement that it “expressed its position” in direct negotiations, but provided no further information.

Boehler reportedly met with Hamas representatives from the Katari capital Doha in recent weeks.

Hamas reportedly owned a base in Doha since 2012, at the request of the Obama administration.

Small but influential Gulf countries are key ally in the region. It has the main U.S. air force base and handles many subtle political negotiations, including with Iran, the Taliban and Russia.

Along with the United States and Egypt, Qatar played a major role in the ceasefire with Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Other reports by Bernd DeBusmann