Trump threatens Hamas: ultimatum to release hostages!

Trump threatens Hamas: ultimatum to release hostages!

Political tensions in the Middle East are increasing. In an interview with Fox News, US President Donald Trump commented on the controversial issue of the Palestinians' "right of return" and clarified: "No, they wouldn't because they will have much better accommodation." Given the current situation, Trump planned to relocate two million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to other Arab states, which was sharply criticized by both Hamas boss Khalil al-Hayya and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to this vol.at. Erdogan described the US plans as not serious and emphasized that no one had the power to inflict a second Nakba, i.e. a second expulsion, on the Palestinians. He also called on Israel to repair the damage caused by military actions in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas suspends hostage releases

The threat to a fragile ceasefire is heightened by recent developments. Hamas has indefinitely postponed the planned release of three Israeli hostages. Trump gave Hamas an ultimatum to release all remaining hostages and threatened consequences if this did not happen by midday Saturday. “If this doesn’t happen, then all hell will break loose,” he warned. Trump stressed that the decision ultimately rests with Israel, but has made his views unequivocally clear, reported ZDF.

With the halt to the release of hostages, the existing ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is at risk. The Israeli defense minister put the army on high alert to counter possible complications. Trump also threatened to suspend aid to countries such as Jordan and Egypt if they refused to accept Palestinian refugees, which would further inflame the already tense situation. The worrying goal of turning Gaza into an economically prosperous region may become even more difficult to achieve given this turmoil.