Donald Trump issued a "final warning" to Hamas on Wednesday to release the remaining Israeli hostages, warning that otherwise, the "people of Gaza" would risk "death," on the same day that the US government confirmed that it had had direct contacts with the Palestinian Islamist movement.
"To the people of Gaza: a beautiful future awaits you, but not if you hold hostages. If you do, you are dead! Make a smart choice," the US president threatened via Truth Social.
He also said that he is sending "Israel everything it needs to finish the job" in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing that "not a single member of Hamas will be safe if you don't do what I say," at a time when the ceasefire agreement in the Palestinian enclave seems increasingly under threat.
"To the (Hamas) leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still can," he added.
The threats by the US president, who met yesterday with eight people who were released after being held hostage in the Gaza Strip, were made on the day that Washington, as well as Hamas, confirmed that they had had direct contacts.
The consultations —unprecedented— break with the official US policy of not having direct contacts with organizations it designates as terrorist, which has been the case since 1997 in the case of Hamas.
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114112015891353323
White House spokeswoman Caroline Levitt confirmed that US special envoy for hostages Adam Boehler has been conducting "negotiations" and is authorized to talk "with anyone."
The spokeswoman avoided going into details, arguing that "American lives are at stake," but she clarified that there had been "consultation" with Israel, which was later confirmed by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
On the other hand, an AFP source in the leadership of the Islamist movement, who spoke on condition of anonymity, referred to "two direct meetings between Hamas and American officials in recent days in Doha."
Five hostages remain in the Gaza Strip who have, in addition to Israeli, American citizenship. Four of them are presumed dead and the fifth is estimated to be still alive, based on an AFP count.
Meanwhile, the new chief of the Israeli general staff, Eyal Zamir, stated yesterday that the "mission" to defeat Hamas in the Gaza Strip is "not over yet."
"Hamas has suffered a severe blow, but it has not yet been defeated," said Major General Zamir, while Prime Minister Netanyahu continues to declare himself "determined" to bring "victory" to the war.
Israel's political and military leadership vowed to annihilate Hamas and launched devastating, large-scale military operations in the Gaza Strip following its military wing's unprecedented incursion into southern Israeli territory on October 7, 2023.
In this raid, 1.218 people died on the Israeli side, the majority of them civilians, according to an Agence France-Presse count based on official data, which includes hostages who died in captivity or were already dead when they were transferred to the Palestinian enclave.
At least 48.440 people in the Gaza Strip, the majority of them civilians, were killed in Israeli retaliatory operations, according to data from the Hamas Health Ministry, which is considered reliable by the UN.
After 15 months of war, a ceasefire agreement reached in indirect negotiations brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the US came into effect on January 19.
But whether it will continue to be implemented seems increasingly uncertain. Israel and Hamas disagree on how it should be renewed after its first phase expires.
During the truce, Hamas handed over 33 hostages to Israel and Israel released about 1.800 Palestinians. Israel also allowed more humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave — before reimposing a blockade on it on Sunday.
Israel wants the first phase to be extended until mid-April, demands the "complete demilitarization" of the enclave, Hamas to leave the Gaza Strip, and the return of all hostages before the second phase begins.
Of the 251 people who were kidnapped on October 7, 2023, 58 still remain in Gaza, but 34 of them have been declared dead by the Israeli army.
Hamas categorically rejects the Netanyahu government's terms, demanding that the second phase be implemented as agreed, in other words, a permanent ceasefire. It also emphasizes that it will remain in the Gaza Strip, where it took power in 2007.
The third phase, if there is one, will be dedicated to rebuilding the coastal Palestinian enclave.
In Cairo on Tuesday, Arab leaders adopted a plan for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip that foresees Hamas being sidelined and the return of the Palestinian Authority — which the Islamist movement expelled from there in 2007.
Israel flatly rejected it.
The plan, according to Cairo, guarantees that the residents of the Gaza Strip will remain on their land. It is an alternative to that of US President Trump, who wants them to be expelled, transferred to Egypt and Jordan, so that the coastal enclave can be transformed, according to him, into the "Riviera of the Middle East."
Source: protothema.gr
