US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning on Wednesday, threatening further devastation in Gaza if all remaining hostages are not released and urging Hamas leaders to flee. The United States also confirmed unprecedented indirect talks with Hamas, a group it designates as a “terrorist” organization, focusing on the release of American hostages held in Gaza.
Strongly supporting Israel as the ceasefire hangs in the balance, Trump announced that his administration is expediting billions of dollars in weapons shipments to Israel. “Release all of the hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is over for you,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform after meeting with freed hostages. He added, “This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance.”
Trump also issued a dire warning to the people of Gaza, stating, “To the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are dead!” His remarks followed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s earlier threat of “consequences that you cannot imagine” if Hamas fails to release the remaining hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attack.
The initial phase of the ceasefire concluded over the weekend after six weeks of relative calm, during which Israeli hostages were exchanged for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. While Israel has expressed a desire to extend the first phase until mid-April, Hamas has demanded a transition to the second phase, which aims to establish a lasting ceasefire. In the meantime, Israel has increased pressure by halting the flow of goods and supplies into Gaza.
Israel’s new military chief, Eyal Zamir, warned on Wednesday, “Hamas has indeed suffered a severe blow, but it has not yet been defeated. The mission is not yet accomplished.” Meanwhile, France, Britain, and Germany jointly described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “catastrophic,” urging Israel to ensure the “unhindered” delivery of aid. South Africa accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war by restricting aid to Gaza.
Residents of Gaza continue to face dire conditions. Abu Hammam al-Hasanat, a 34-year-old Gaza resident, told AFP, “We lack drinking water. People are complaining of a lack of water in general. We cannot get rid of the waste, which affects the groundwater.”
**Talks with Hamas**
Trump’s aggressive rhetoric came as the US confirmed indirect talks with Hamas, led by US envoy on hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, to secure the release of American hostages. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “Dialogue and talking to people around the world to do what’s in the best interest of the American people is something that the president believes is right.” She added that Boehler “has the authority to talk to anyone,” marking a significant shift from the US’s longstanding refusal to engage directly with Hamas since designating it a terrorist organization in 1997. Both the White House and Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Israel was consulted in advance.
Five Americans are believed to remain among the hostages, with four confirmed dead and one, Edan Alexander, presumed alive. The October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, while Israel’s military response in Gaza has killed at least 48,440 people, also predominantly civilians, according to data from both sides. Of the 251 captives taken by Hamas, 58 remain in Gaza, including 34 whom the Israeli military has confirmed as deceased.
In an interview, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Hamas to take Trump’s threats seriously, stating, “He doesn’t say these things and not mean it, as folks are finding out around the world. If he says he’s going to do something, he’ll do it.”
**Doubts on Arab Plan**
Trump has proposed taking control of the Gaza Strip and displacing its population, an idea that has drawn widespread international condemnation. Arab leaders have countered with a plan to finance Gaza’s reconstruction through a trust fund and called for unified Palestinian representation under the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to marginalize Hamas.
Hugh Lovatt of the European Council on Foreign Relations described the Arab plan as “far more realistic than what the Trump administration is proposing.” However, Ghassan Khatib, a Palestinian political analyst and former Palestinian Authority minister, expressed skepticism, stating, “It doesn’t make sense to expect Israel to drop the plan of Trump and to adopt the plan of the Arabs. There’s no chance.”
Following a UN Security Council meeting on Gaza’s future, French diplomat Jay Dharmadhikari emphasized that any plan must exclude Hamas, ensure Israel’s security, and avoid displacing Palestinians from Gaza. “We are clear that any plan must have no role for Hamas, must ensure Israel’s security, and must not displace Palestinians from Gaza,” he said.
