Trump Demands Hamas Free Hostages, Sets Deadline

Donald Trump has demanded the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas, issuing a clear ultimatum through a Truth Social post. Trump declared that Israel had accepted his terms and urged Hamas to follow suit, issuing a stark warning about the consequences of non-compliance, which he framed as a ‘last warning.’ This intervention follows reports on the status of the hostages in Gaza. Hamas responded to Trump’s statement by signaling readiness to begin negotiations focused on exchanging prisoners, dependent on a cease-fire, full withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the establishment of a governing committee for the Gaza Strip. Hamas expressed support for efforts to halt aggression and affirmed the group had received proposals from American officials for a ceasefire agreement, maintaining contact with mediators in an effort to solidify these ideas into a more concrete agreement.