Trump warns of 'all hell' if Gaza captives not freed by Saturday

  • News
  • February 10, 2025

Trump’s latest extraordinary intervention in the Middle East came after Hamas threatened to postpone any further hostage-prisoner exchanges, placing the fragile six-week truce that took effect on January 19 at risk.

Describing Hamas’s move as “terrible”, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he would “let that be Israel’s decision” on what should ultimately happen to the ceasefire.

“But as far as I’m concerned, if all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday 12 o’clock — I think it’s an appropriate time — I would say cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out,” Trump said.

Trump said that “all” the remaining hostages should be freed, “not in dribs and drabs, not two and one and three and four and two.”

“We want them all back. I’m speaking for myself. Israel can override it, but for myself, Saturday at 12 o’clock — and if they’re not here, all hell is going to break out.”

Trump said he would probably speak to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the timeline he had just proposed.

He did not elaborate on what the threat entailed, saying only that “Hamas will find out what I mean.” Asked if he was ruling out the potential involvement of US forces, Trump replied: “We’ll see what happens.”

The US president also threatened to halt aid to allies Jordan and Egypt if they refuse to take in Palestinians under his controversial plan for the United States to “take over” Gaza.

“Maybe,” Trump told reporters when asked if he would suspend billions of dollars in US assistance.

“If they don’t agree, I would conceivably withhold it.”

Trump is due to meet Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Washington this week.

The threat came after Egypt rejected earlier Monday “any compromise” that would infringe on Palestinians’ rights, in a statement issued after Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with his US counterpart in Washington.

Trump earlier said in an interview with Fox News Channel’s Bret Baier that Palestinians would have no right of return to Gaza under his US takeover plan, which he unveiled in a joint press conference with Netanyahu last week.

“No, they wouldn’t, because they’re going to have much better housing,” Trump said when Baier asked if the Palestinians would have the right to return to the enclave, most of which has been reduced to rubble by Israel’s military since October 2023.

“In other words, I’m talking about building a permanent place for them because if they have to return now, it’ll be years before you could ever — it’s not habitable.”

© 2025 AFP

Related Posts

  • February 25, 2025
  • 74 views
Transgender religious order gets rare approval at India Hindu festival

Prayagraj (India) (AFP) – Transgender activists often shunned by society say they have found rare acceptance at India’s Hindu Kumbh Mela festival by giving blessings to pilgrims attending the world’s largest religious gathering.

  • February 25, 2025
  • 72 views
Stuck in eternal drought, UAE turns to AI to make it rain

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – In the marbled halls of a luxury hotel, leading experts are discussing a new approach to an age-old problem: how to make it rain in the UAE, the wealthy Gulf state that lies in one of the world’s biggest deserts.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You Missed

Transgender religious order gets rare approval at India Hindu festival

  • February 25, 2025
  • 74 views
Transgender religious order gets rare approval at India Hindu festival

Stuck in eternal drought, UAE turns to AI to make it rain

  • February 25, 2025
  • 72 views
Stuck in eternal drought, UAE turns to AI to make it rain

Trump's chip tariff threats raise stakes for Taiwan

  • February 25, 2025
  • 74 views
Trump's chip tariff threats raise stakes for Taiwan

Galatasaray accuse Mourinho of 'racist statements' after derby

  • February 25, 2025
  • 90 views
Galatasaray accuse Mourinho of 'racist statements' after derby

Fears of US public health crises grow amid falling vaccination rates

  • February 25, 2025
  • 87 views
Fears of US public health crises grow amid falling vaccination rates

Latin American classics get the streaming treatment

  • February 25, 2025
  • 72 views
Latin American classics get the streaming treatment