U.S. Envoy Condemns Hamas’ Hostage Treatment, Trump Issues Stark Warning
The United States has escalated its rhetoric against Hamas regarding the treatment of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, with U.S. envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff delivering a scathing condemnation of the group’s actions and President Donald Trump issuing a direct and forceful ultimatum.
Witkoff, speaking to reporters outside the White House, described Hamas’ treatment of the hostages as "intolerable," emphasizing that President Trump would not stand for such inhumane conditions. His remarks came a day after Trump met with eight former hostages in Washington, a meeting that visibly impacted the president and fueled his resolve to secure the release of those still held captive.
"We’re not going to sit here, do nothing and tolerate this kind of inhumane conditions," Witkoff declared. "They lived in a terrible situation. By the way, who keeps dead bodies? Who does that? Who keeps people chained up downstairs? Who murders in front of other hostages? What’s happened here is intolerable, and it’s not going to be tolerated by President Trump."
Witkoff recounted the emotional meeting between Trump and the former hostages, noting that the president had spent a significant amount of time listening to their harrowing experiences in captivity. "We had a wonderful day with the hostages yesterday… they got a treat a lifetime, they got to spend some time with President Trump. And we thought it was going to be a short period of time because his day was busy, but he ended up spending about an hour with them, with each of the hostages, pictures, and spent a lot of time listening to their stories about what happened to them in captivity. And he was clearly emotional about it as anybody would be," he said.
The meeting and Witkoff’s subsequent remarks were followed by a strongly worded message from Trump on his Truth Social platform, which he framed as a "last warning" to Hamas. The president’s language was direct and uncompromising, reflecting the gravity of the situation and the urgency he placed on securing the hostages’ release.
However, Hamas has responded defiantly to Trump’s threats, refusing to release any more Israeli hostages without a permanent ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip. Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua asserted that the "best path to free the remaining Israeli hostages" is through negotiations on a second phase of the ceasefire agreement. This stance sets the stage for a potential impasse, as the U.S. and Israel have consistently maintained that a full hostage release is a prerequisite for any further negotiations.
The initial phase of the ceasefire, which lasted 42 days, concluded on Saturday. A second phase was initially anticipated to commence in early February, but progress has been limited to preliminary discussions.
Trump’s message to Hamas was unambiguous: "’Shalom Hamas’ means Hello and Goodbye – You can choose," he wrote. "Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you."
He further emphasized his commitment to supporting Israel in achieving its objectives, stating that he is "sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job" and that "not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say."
In a direct appeal to the people of Gaza, Trump offered a vision of a "beautiful Future" contingent on the release of the hostages. "Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages," he warned. "If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!"
The exchange between the U.S. and Hamas highlights the complexities of the ongoing conflict and the significant challenges in achieving a resolution. While the U.S. is exerting pressure on Hamas to release the hostages, the group is attempting to leverage the situation to secure a permanent ceasefire and potentially gain political concessions.
Trump’s strong stance and his administration’s clear message to Hamas reflect a growing impatience with the situation and a determination to prioritize the safe return of the hostages. The coming days and weeks will be crucial in determining whether negotiations can resume and whether a breakthrough can be achieved. The lives of the hostages hang in the balance, and the international community is closely watching the developments as the U.S. seeks to exert its influence and secure their release. The situation remains highly volatile and fraught with uncertainty, with the potential for further escalation depending on the actions of both sides.
