March 6, 2025: US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to the people of Gaza and the Hamas militant group, demanding the release of hostages or face severe consequences. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated, “To the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!”
Trump also directed a message to Hamas, urging them to “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.” He added, “This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance.”
The president emphasized his support for Israel, stating, “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.”
Five Americans are believed to remain among the hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel. Four of them have been confirmed dead, while the fifth, Edan Alexander, is believed to be alive.
The first phase of a ceasefire ended over the weekend after six weeks of relative calm, which included exchanges of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. While Israel has expressed a desire to extend the first phase until mid-April, Hamas has insisted on transitioning to the second phase, which aims to achieve a permanent end to the war.