Trump threatens “hell break out” if Hamas fails to release hostages by Saturday
AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta Credit: AP
US President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum warning that if Hamas does not release all hostages held in Gaza by midday Saturday, he would push for the cancellation of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, declaring, “Let hell break out.”
Trump acknowledged that Israel might override his stance and hinted at a possible conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, he expressed frustration over Hamas’ decision to halt further hostage releases, emphasizing, “We want ’em all back.”
Additionally, Trump suggested that Jordan and Egypt should take in Palestinian refugees from Gaza, threatening to withhold US aid if they refuse. He is set to meet Jordan’s King Abdullah on Tuesday to discuss the matter.
In a controversial proposal, Trump suggested that Palestinians would not have the right to return to Gaza, contradicting previous US officials’ claims that any relocation would be temporary. He argued that Gaza would take years to rebuild, proposing instead to resettle displaced Palestinians permanently with “better housing.”
His plan to redevelop Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East” under US control—announced after a February 4 meeting with Netanyahu—has sparked international backlash.
Critics, including Gaza residents, Arab states, rights groups, and the United Nations, have condemned the idea as a form of ethnic cleansing.
