Hamas unleashes of Trump’s threat and says he will only free the hostages in exchange for a lasting armistice

On Wednesday, Trump issued what he said was a “last warning” of Hamas after meeting eight former hostages. Meanwhile, the White House has confirmed that it has held unprecedented direct discussions with the militant group, which Israel and Western countries consider a terrorist organization.

“Release all the hostages now, not later, and immediately return all the dead bodies of the people you killed, or it has been over for you,” Trump wrote on his social platform. “Only sick and twisted people keep bodies and you are sick and twisted!”

Both Israel and Hamas have a long -term practice of keeping their opponents’ remains to trade in hostage prisoner transactions.

It is believed that Hamas has another 24 living hostages taken in the attack of October 7, 2023, which triggered the war, including Edan Alexander Israelia-American. He also holds the bodies of another 34 who were killed in the initial attack, either in captivity, as well as the remains of a soldier killed in the 2014 war.

Hamas launched 25 Israeli hostages and bodies still eight in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in the first 42 -day phase of ceasing fire, which ended on Saturday.

Israel claims what he says is a new American plan for the second phase in which Hamas would free half of the hostages left immediately and the rest when a permanent cessation is negotiated. Hamas rejected the proposal and says he respects the agreement signed in January.

Israel has interrupted the delivery of food, fuel, drugs and other consumables to about 2 million Palestinians in Gaza, in an attempt to press Hamas to accept the new arrangement. Threatened “additional consequences” if Hamas did not resume the issuance of hostages.

It is not clear whether the US-Hamas discussions have made progress. The Trump administration has promised the full support for Israel’s main war objectives to return all hostages and eradication of Hamas, which can be incompatible.

The militants led by Hamas killed about 1,200 people, largely civilians, in the attack on October 7, and took a total of 251 hostage people. Most were issued in fire termination agreements or other arrangements. The Israeli forces saved eight living hostages and recovered the bodies.

The military offensive of Israel killed over 48,000 Palestinians, largely women and children, according to the Ministry of Health of Gaza, which does not say how many of the dead were militants. Israel says he killed over 17,000 fighters, without providing evidence.

The offensive destroyed vast areas of Gaza and moved most of its population. Hundreds of thousands of people live in tents, school transformed into tambure or damaged buildings, and the population is based on international aid.