President Donald Trump delivered an ultimatum to Hamas on Wednesday, demanding the immediate release of all hostages held in Gaza or face dire consequences, just hours after the White House confirmed it was engaging in unprecedented direct negotiations with the militant group.
The move marks a significant departure from decades of U.S. policy against dialoguing with organizations it deems terrorists.
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“Shalom Hamas” means Hello and Goodbye – You can choose. 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. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted! I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say. I have just met with your former Hostages whose lives you have destroyed. This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance. Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!” said Trump on Truth Social.
The fiery rhetoric followed reports, first broken by Axios, that U.S. officials, led by Trump’s hostage envoy Adam Boehler, have been negotiating directly with Hamas in Doha, Qatar, over the release of American and other hostages, as well as the fragile Gaza ceasefire.
The U.S. designated Hamas a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 1997, and while exceptions—like Obama- and Trump-era talks with the Taliban—exist, this shift stunned observers given Washington’s historical stance.
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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the decision during a Wednesday briefing. “The special envoy who’s engaged in those negotiations does have the authority to talk to anyone,” she said, referencing Boehler. “Israel was consulted on this matter, and dialogue … is something the president believes is a good faith effort to do what’s right for the American people.” She declined to elaborate on the talks’ scope, deferring questions to the State Department.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office issued a terse statement: “Israel has expressed to the United States its position regarding direct talks with Hamas.”
It offered no clarity on whether Israel was informed beforehand or what its stance entailed, though a source earlier told CNN that Israel was aware of the discussions. Israeli Consul General in New York, Ofir Akunis, appeared to welcome the pressure on Hamas during a Fox Business interview.
“Instead of putting Israel under pressure, President Trump is putting Hamas under pressure, and this is the right thing to do,” he said. “If the White House wants to talk directly to Hamas … we will be very happy to see more hostages with their families.”
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The talks and Trump’s threat come as the Gaza ceasefire, brokered in January, teeters on collapse. Hamas has released 18 hostages since the truce began, including dual U.S.-Israeli citizen Keith Siegel, alongside over 730 Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel.
Yet, with an estimated 59 hostages remaining—up to 24 believed alive—tensions are mounting. Hamas rejected a recent Israeli proposal to extend the ceasefire without guarantees of a full troop withdrawal, prompting Israel to block aid into Gaza on Sunday.
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