Photo credit: Times of Israel
US President-elect Donald Trump is demanding the immediate release of Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza, saying that if they are not freed before his inauguration, there will be “HELL TO PAY.”
CBC reports that Trump wrote on his Truth Social site, “Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that 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.
“Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied history of the United States of America,”
Although it was not clear if Trump was threatening to involve the US military in Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza, his allies have said he hopes there will be a ceasefire and hostage release deal before he assumes office.
While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to comment, the country’s president, Isaac Herzog, welcomed Trump’s comments.” He wrote on X, “Thank you and bless you, Mr President-elect @realDonaldTrump. We all pray for the moment we see our sisters and brothers back home!”
Trump’s threat came hours after the Israeli government confirmed the death of Omer Neutra, a dual US-Israeli citizen. His body is still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza, according to the Israeli government.
The Biden administration is mounting a last-ditch effort to try to restart talks between Israel and Hamas now that it has brokered a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. However, the administration has said that Hamas is still unwilling to re-engage in negotiations.
