On Thursday, the Hamas militant group dismissed President Donald Trump’s latest threats regarding the ongoing hostage situation, affirming its position that the remaining Israeli hostages will only be released in exchange for a lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The group accused both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting to backtrack on the ceasefire agreement established in January.
This agreement outlines negotiations for a second phase, promising the release of hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire, and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua emphasized that the “best path to free the remaining Israeli hostages” is through negotiations on this second phase, which were initially scheduled to commence in early February. However, reports indicate that only limited preparatory talks have taken place thus far.
In a significant escalation, Trump issued what he termed a “last warning” to Hamas after meeting with eight former hostages. The White House has confirmed that it engaged in unprecedented direct talks with the militant organization, which is classified as a terrorist group by Israel and Western nations. On his Truth Social platform, Trump stated, “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 further condemned Hamas, labeling them as “sick and twisted” for holding onto deceased bodies, a common practice in the region for negotiating prisoner exchanges.
Currently, Hamas is believed to hold 24 living hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attack that ignited the ongoing conflict. Among these hostages is Israeli-American Edan Alexander. Additionally, Hamas is retaining the bodies of 34 individuals, either killed during the initial assault or while in captivity, along with the remains of a soldier who lost his life in the 2014 war.
During the first 42-day phase of the ceasefire, Hamas released 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight more in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Following the conclusion of this phase on Saturday, Israel has indicated support for a new U.S. plan for the second phase, which proposes that Hamas releases half of the remaining hostages immediately, with the remainder to be released once a permanent ceasefire is negotiated. However, Hamas has rejected this proposal, insisting on adherence to the January agreement.
In an attempt to pressure Hamas into accepting the new arrangement, Israel has stopped the delivery of essential supplies, including food, fuel, and medicine, to Gaza’s approximately 2 million Palestinian residents. The Israeli government has warned of “additional consequences” should Hamas fail to resume the release of hostages.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains unclear whether the talks between U.S. officials and Hamas have yielded any progress. The Trump administration has voiced its full support for Israel’s primary objectives, which include the return of all hostages and the eradication of Hamas—goals that may be inherently contradictory.
In the wake of the October 7 attack, Hamas-led militants reportedly killed around 1,200 individuals, primarily civilians, and took 251 people hostage. Many of these hostages have since been released through ceasefire agreements or other arrangements, while Israeli forces have managed to rescue eight living hostages and recover the bodies of numerous others. However, the ongoing Israeli military offensive has resulted in the deaths of over 48,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, as per the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not specify how many of the deceased were militants. Israel claims to have killed over 17,000 fighters, although it has not provided evidence to support this assertion.
The military offensive has wreaked havoc across Gaza, displacing a significant portion of its population. Hundreds of thousands now find themselves living in tents, makeshift shelters, or damaged buildings, relying heavily on international aid for survival.
