Trump issues ‘last warning’ to Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza

US President Donald Trump yesterday issued a stern warning to the Palestinian group Hamas, threatening severe consequences if all captives held in Gaza are not immediately freed.

“‘Shalom Hamas’ means Hello and Goodbye – You can choose. 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. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Pledging full support for Israel, he warned that Hamas leaders would not be safe if they failed to comply.

“I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say,” he said.

Trump called on Hamas’s leadership to leave Gaza while they “still have a chance.”

“This is your last warning!” he wrote.

He also directed a message to the people of Gaza, linking their future to the fate of the captives.

“A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision,” he said.

“RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!”

Trump’s post came following his meeting with eight captives released from Gaza and after unprecedented direct talks were held between the US and Hamas for the first time since 1997.

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Israel decided Sunday to halt aid shipments to Gaza, hours after the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement between Israel and Hamas expired. The move put in play the policy of starvation which Israel first launched in October 2023 and which led to the death of dozens of Palestinian children.

The first six-week phase of the agreement, which took effect in mid-January, officially ended at midnight Saturday.

Israel, however, has not agreed to move forward to the second phase of the deal to permanently end the war in Gaza, in which Tel Aviv has killed more than 48,400 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its war on the enclave.

READ: Egypt hints Israel seeks to evade its obligations under Gaza ceasefire deal