Trump’s chilling ultimatum to Hamas as he calls for all Gaza hostages to be freed this week or ‘all hell breaks loose’
PRESIDENT Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum to Hamas as he warns all hell is going to break out if they refuse to release the final hostages.
The Republican said the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel should be cancelled if the remaining hostages are not all freed by 12pm on Saturday.
He told reporters at The White House: “If all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock, I think it’s an appropriate time.
“I would say, cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out. I’d say they ought to be returned by 12 o’clock on Saturday.”
Speaking directly on the hostages, Trump added: “I don’t want a trickle. Not three and then two. I want them all.”
Despite the chilling ultimatum, Trump also said he fears that many of the remaining captives could be dead.
He ended the powerful statement by saying any move is ultimately up to Israel.
His comments come just hours after the terror group Hamas announced they are delaying any further hostage releases.
They accused Israel of violating the fragile ceasefire pact which only started three weeks ago.
Hamas’ top brass claim Israel has been dragging its feet on allowing aid into Gaza – a charge Israel has rejected as untrue.
The major confrontation comes just halfway through the agreed six-week deal which should see 33 hostages ruthlessly snatched on October 7, finally returned home to their loved ones.
So far, 16 captives have been safely handed over since January 19 in five separate groups.
As well as five Thai hostages who were returned in an unscheduled release.
In exchange, Israel has released hundreds of prisoners and detainees, ranging from prisoners serving life sentences for deadly attacks to Palestinians detained during the war and held without charge.
Over a dozen hostages are still yet to be freed with fears increasing every day about the condition of those still being held.
Serious concerns are starting to grow over the youngest hostage, baby Kfir Bibas.
Kfir was only nine months old when he was barbarically forced to spend the majority of his life as a Hamas prisoner.
He was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz during Hamas’ October 7 bloodbath alongside his parents and older brother, Ariel, five.
Trump made his Gaza comments to reporters as he signed a huge number of executive orders in the Oval Office.
One of these is aimed at encouraging the US government and consumers to purchase plastic straws opposed to paper ones.
Trump has been vocal on his thoughts on Gaza and the current war in the Middle East since returning to office in January.
He was left furious by the condition of the latest releases saying they “looked like Holocaust survivors”.
The US president said he was losing his patience with the hostage deal after seeing footage of Eli Sharabi, Or Levy and Ohad Ben Ami, who appeared gaunt upon their release.
Last week, the President surprised the world when he said the US should take over the decimated Gaza Strip and create his vision of a “Riviera of the Middle East”.
Trump’s idea included relocating two million Palestinians to neighbouring countries like Jordan and Egypt while the US reconstructed the area he called a “demolition site”.
He said he would turn Gaza into the “most spectacular development on Earth” but Palestinians have argued they will reconstruct the area themselves.
The President also said Palestinians would not be able to return to their homes in Gaza under his new plans.
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said Trump’s statement was “irresponsible.”
He told Reuters: “We affirm that such plans are capable of igniting the region.”