U.S. President-elect Donald Trump issued a stark warning on Monday to Gaza militants, threatening unprecedented consequences if hostages captured during the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel are not released before his inauguration on January 20, 2025.
Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “If the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity.” He added, “Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!”
The ultimatum comes after months of diplomatic efforts by outgoing President Joe Biden’s administration failed to secure the release of hostages or end the ongoing conflict. Biden’s approach has included both support for Israel’s military response and calls for restraint, but no comprehensive resolution has been reached.
Trump, known for his outspoken support for Israel, has promised unwavering backing for the nation while expressing interest in brokering significant international agreements.
The hostage crisis stems from Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which claimed 1,208 lives and saw 251 hostages taken, according to Israeli officials. Of these, 97 remain in Gaza, including 35 the Israeli military has declared deceased.
Israel’s subsequent retaliation has led to a death toll of 44,429 in Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry, figures deemed credible by the United Nations. As the conflict persists, Trump’s warning signals a potential escalation in U.S. involvement under his leadership if the crisis is not resolved.
