US President Warns of Severe Retaliation if Hostages Are Not Released by Saturday Noon
Washington, DC [US], February 15: US President Donald Trump has reiterated his ultimatum to Hamas, stating that if all hostages held in Gaza are not released by noon on Saturday, “all hell will break out.” His remarks come as Hamas initially refused to release further captives but later reversed its stance following Trump’s warning earlier this week.
Trump Doubles Down on Threat Against Hamas
Speaking to reporters on Friday, President Trump expressed uncertainty over what would unfold at the deadline but made it clear that the US stance remains firm.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow at 12 o’clock. If it were up to me, I’d take a very hard stance. I can’t tell you what Israel is going to do. But I looked at the last people who came out, and they had been treated very badly. One guy looked like he had just come out of the Holocaust,” Trump said, criticizing Hamas’ treatment of hostages.
He emphasized that Hamas had previously refused to release hostages but suddenly changed its position following his ultimatum.
“They initially said they wouldn’t release them. I said, ‘Good, you have till 12 o’clock on Saturday.’ And then two days ago, they said, ‘We’ve decided we’re going to release them,'” Trump added.
Hamas’ Changing Stance on Hostage Release
Earlier this week, Hamas threatened to delay the next scheduled release of hostages, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement. However, following Trump’s firm warning, the group confirmed on Friday that it would proceed with releasing three male Israeli hostages:
- Sagui Dekel Chen
- Sasha Troufanov
- Iair Horn
These releases are part of the sixth round of the ongoing hostage-prisoner exchange under the current ceasefire deal.
Trump’s Ultimatum: “No More Delays”
On February 10, while signing executive orders, Trump delivered a stark warning:
“If all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock, I would say, cancel it and all bets are off. Let hell break out.”
When asked about what “all hell” might entail, Trump refused to elaborate, saying:
“You’ll find out, and Hamas will find out what I mean.”
He clarified that while Israel ultimately has the authority to make its own decisions, the US stance remains aggressive.
“I’m speaking for myself. Israel can override it, but from myself, Saturday at 12 o’clock, and if they’re not here, all hell is going to break out.”
Ongoing Ceasefire & Hostage Exchange Deal
As part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, several hostages have already been freed:
- 16 Israeli hostages
- 5 Thai hostages
In exchange, Israel has released around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including convicted terrorists.
Currently, 73 of the 251 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023, remain in Gaza, including at least 35 confirmed dead bodies.
What’s Next?
With the Saturday noon deadline fast approaching, global attention remains focused on Hamas’ next move and Israel’s response. If the hostages are not freed, Trump’s warning suggests possible escalation in US or Israeli actions against Hamas.
As the situation unfolds, world leaders are closely watching whether Hamas will comply with Trump’s ultimatum—or if a new phase of conflict is about to begin.
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Hamas hostage crisis, Trump ultimatum, Gaza conflict, Israel-Palestine war, hostage negotiations, Israel Hamas ceasefire, hostage release deal, Netanyahu Hamas talks, US foreign policy, Middle East crisis