“All hell will break out if hostages aren’t back,” Trump warns Hamas
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 16: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a news conference at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort on December 16, 2024 in Palm Beach, Florida. In a news conference that went over an hour, Trump announced that SoftBank will invest over $100 billion in projects in the United States including 100,000 artificial intelligence related jobs and then took questions on Syria, Israel, Ukraine, the economy, cabinet picks, and many other topics. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
President-elect Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Hamas regarding the release of hostages held in Gaza, stating that failure to do so before his inauguration on January 20 will lead to severe consequences.
Speaking at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump emphasized the urgency of the matter, declaring, “All hell will break out. If those hostages aren’t back, I don’t want to hurt your negotiation. If they’re not back by the time I get into office, all hell will break out in the Middle East.”
Approximately 100 hostages, including American citizens, have been held in Gaza since their capture on October 7, 2023.
Steven Charles Witkoff, Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East, expressed cautious optimism about the ongoing negotiations, attributing progress to Trump’s influence.
“I believe we’ve been on the verge of it… it’s the president, his stature, what he’s said he expects, the red lines he’s put out there, that’s driving this negotiation,” Witkoff told reporters.
Witkoff added that efforts are focused on achieving a resolution that prioritizes saving lives, underscoring the critical role of Trump’s reputation and expectations in shaping the talks.
