On Wednesday, Trump issued a threat to Hamas demanding the immediate release of all captives or “THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!”
Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas said the threats made by US President Donald Trump demanding the immediate release of all captives held in Gaza are complicating ceasefire efforts and encouraging Israel to backtrack on the agreement.
“These threats complicate matters regarding the ceasefire agreement and encourage the occupation government (Israel) to refrain from implementing its terms,” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told the Anadolu news agency on Thursday.
Why Has Israel Scrapped Gaza Ceasefire and Blocked Aid Reaching Civilians?
Qassem emphasized that there is a signed ceasefire agreement with Washington as one of its mediators which includes the release of all Israeli captives in Gaza over its three stages.
“Hamas implemented all its obligations under phase one (of the agreement), but Israel is avoiding entering phase two,” he stressed.
“The US administration is required to pressure the occupation to enter negotiations for the second phase, as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement,” Qassem stated.
‘Hell to Pay’ – Trump
On Wednesday, Trump issued a threat to Hamas demanding the immediate release of all captives or “THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!”
“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 said in a post on his Truth Social platform as well as X.
“‘Shalom Hamas’ means Hello and Goodbye – You can choose. 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. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted! I am… pic.twitter.com/88EjVAyWAe
— President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) March 5, 2025
“Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted! I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say,” he continued.
Trump, who met with released Israeli captives at the White House on Wednesday, further warned Hamas that “This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance.”
‘Hell to Pay Later’
“Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!” the US president added.
The Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement came into effect on January 21. On Sunday Israel decided to halt aid shipments hours after phase one of the agreement expired.
Axios: A delegation of freed Israeli captives met with Donald Trump at the White House. pic.twitter.com/1CBbAxb1kB
— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) March 5, 2025
The first six-week phase of the agreement officially ended at midnight on Saturday.
Israel, however, has not agreed to move forward to phase two of the deal to permanently end the war in Gaza, which has killed over 48,000 people, mostly women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.
Call from Witkoff
Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, called on Israel on Wednesday to uphold a ceasefire until his visit there and the region.
Israel’s Yediot Ahronot daily, cited by the Anadolu news agency said that Witkoff’s visit has been postponed several times for various reasons.
Your are right, Mr. President. This is SICK. And we Americans pay for it! Time to stop sending BILLIONS to Israel which does nothing but start wars, occupy other people’s land and get America into trouble. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/afFwZ129Lf
— Ali Abunimah (@AliAbunimah) March 5, 2025
The report said that Witkoff called for the preservation of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas until his arrival and that the visit is expected to take place next week.
“Witkoff stressed that Israel must maintain the ceasefire in Gaza until he arrives in the region—even if Hamas refuses to release the hostages,” it reportedly added.
Problem of ‘Occupation’
On Thursday, the head of Gaza’s Government Media Office, Selame Maruf, said Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories has always been the problem, not Hamas.
“Our people or the resistance in Gaza have never been the problem. The problem has always been the occupation (Israel),” Maruf said in a statement on X, according to Anadolu.
Gaza, Intl. Law, Global Complicity: 8 Takeaways from Francesca Albanese on Floodgate Podcast
He went on to criticize Trump’s remarks, arguing that such statements “give absolute support and encouragement to the war criminal (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu, allowing him the power and capability to continue committing crimes against 2.4 million people.”
“What is happening today in the West Bank and Jerusalem is the best evidence of this,” he added.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
(Anadolu, PC)
