Israel – Times of Israel, January 01, 2025
Renewed spurt of negotiations hits impasse, with Israel demanding release of only living hostages in first stage of a deal, while Hamas insists on permanent ceasefire
US President-elect Donald Trump reiterated on Tuesday night his warning to Hamas to release the hostages it is holding in Gaza.
At a New Year’s Eve gala at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump was asked by a CNN reporter whether he had spoken recently to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about a potential ceasefire and hostage deal, talks on which appear to have hit a snag.
“We’re gonna see what happens,” Trump replied, before adding: “I’ll put it this way: They better let the hostages come back soon.”
Trump first made a similar threat at the Republican National Convention in July and repeated it again last month, saying then that “there will be all hell to pay in the Middle East and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against humanity” if the hostages were not released by the time he takes office.
Trump’s reiterated threat comes as Israeli and US officials have said Israel and Hamas are unlikely to reach a hostage deal before Trump’s return to office, as a renewed round of negotiations has appeared to once again fizzle out.
