President Donald Trump has delivered a stark warning to Hamas, stating that the militant group must release all remaining Israeli and American hostages held in Gaza by noon on Saturday or risk the end of the current ceasefire agreement.
Trump’s ultimatum, issued from the Oval Office on Monday, leaves Hamas with a decisive deadline before Israel is given free rein to respond as it sees fit.
“All bets are off … let hell break out,” Trump declared while signing executive orders, signaling a major escalation in the already tense standoff between Israel and Hamas.
His remarks come after Hamas announced it would delay the release of hostages in the first phase of a six-week ceasefire deal, alleging that Israel had violated terms of the agreement.
The delay in the hostage release follows widespread condemnation after images surfaced of emaciated Israeli captives freed over the weekend, Breitbart News reported.
Trump himself compared their condition to Holocaust survivors liberated at the end of World War II, underscoring the urgency of their release.
The president stated that if Hamas does not comply with the ultimatum, “the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal should be canceled.” Though he clarified that the ultimate decision rests with Israel, per The Times of Israel.
He made his own position unmistakably clear: “I’m speaking for myself. Israel can override it.”
Breitbart noted that Trump did not specify whether the deadline refers to noon Eastern Time or local time in Israel and Gaza, but the message itself was unequivocal—Hamas must act, or the fragile ceasefire could collapse entirely.
The current hostage-release agreement was brokered in January with U.S. involvement, appearing to align with the Biden administration’s phased release plan.
Trump’s latest remarks indicate a shift in his stance, however, suggesting that a drawn-out, multi-phase process is no longer acceptable.
At present, the Times reports 73 hostages remain in Gaza, with 17 scheduled to be freed in the initial phase of the deal.
Not all of those in captivity are believed to be alive, however, and many others would remain under Hamas’s control until subsequent phases of the agreement took place.
Trump had previously warned in December that there would be “ALL HELL TO PAY” if Hamas did not release the hostages by Jan. 20, Resist the Mainstream previously reported.
With his new ultimatum, Breitbart highlighted that he has reinforced his demand that all captives must be returned immediately, rather than in a gradual exchange.
Trump’s hardline approach puts additional pressure on Israeli leadership, which has already faced mounting domestic and international scrutiny over its handling of the hostage crisis.
Israeli officials have yet to formally respond to Trump’s latest comments, but his statement signals potential shifts in U.S. support depending on how the situation unfolds.
If Hamas fails to comply, the Israeli government may feel emboldened to launch a more aggressive military response, effectively ending the current ceasefire agreement.
This scenario would likely reignite full-scale hostilities in the region, escalating an already volatile conflict.
