Trump’s harsh warning to Hamas: ‘They will pay dearly’ if they don’t release Gaza hostages soon

The president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump
warned Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip this Monday that “they will pay dearly” if the hostages are not released before his inauguration.

“If the hostages are not released before January 20, 2025, the date on which I will proudly assume the office of President of the United States, the Middle East and those who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity will pay dearly,” he wrote in its Truth Social platform.

“Those responsible will be hit harder than anyone in the long and legendary history of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!” he added.

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Trump has promised strong support for Israel, which Biden has also backed although with occasional criticism of the way Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is carrying out his military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

On October 7, 2023, the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas carried out the deadliest attack ever against Israel that left 1,208 dead, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

The militants took 251 hostages during the attack, some of whom were already dead.

Of them, 97 are still held in Gaza, including 35 whom the army considers dead.

Israel’s retaliation campaign has killed 44,429 people in Gaza, according to figures from the territory’s Health Ministry that the UN considers reliable.

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