Trump appears to threaten Hamas with ‘all hell to pay’ over hostages

[Pelican Press 0]

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Trump appears to threaten ****** with ‘all ***** to pay’ over hostages

US President-elect Donald Trump has issued an apparent warning to ******, threatening “all ***** to pay” if hostages held by the ************ group in Gaza are not released by the time he returns to the White House on 20 January.

Dozens of people who were snatched during the 7 October 2023 ****** ******* on ******* remain unaccounted for. On Monday, the ******** military said an ********-********* soldier who it believed to be a captive had in fact been ******* last October.

Without mentioning ****** by name, Trump posted online the same day: “Those responsible will be hit ******* than anybody has been hit in the long and storied history of the ******* States of America.”

Trump has generally spoken of ending foreign conflicts, and of reducing US involvement.

He has positioned himself as a staunch supporter of ******* during its campaign in Gaza, but has urged the ********* ally to end its military operation.

******* launched a campaign to ******** ****** in response to the group’s unprecedented ******* on southern ******* in 2023, in which about 1,200 people were ******* and 251 others were taken ********.

More than 44,000 people have been ******* in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s ******-run health ministry. Tens of thousands of others have been injured and much of the ************ enclave is in ruins.

On Monday, ******* attributed a new ****** to the 2023 ******** by ****** – saying ********-********* soldier Omer Neutra was ******* that day, and his body taken to Gaza. He was previously believed to have been in captivity but alive.

US President Joe Biden was among those who paid tribute to the 21-year-old, saying he was “devastated and outraged” at Neutra’s ******.

In recent days, ****** also released a video purporting to show another ********-********* caught up in the attacks, ******** ***** Alexander.

In the clip, in which he appears distressed, the man calls on Trump and ******** Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to negotiate for his freedom.

Monday’s Truth Social post by Trump gave few specifics, but appeared to refer to the hostages still held captive in Gaza by ******.

“Everybody is talking about the hostages who are being held so violently, inhumanely, and against the will of the entire world, in the Middle East – but it’s all talk, and no action!” he wrote.

He went on to say: “If the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume office as President of the ******* States, there will be ALL ***** TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against humanity.”

The 20 January date refers to Trump’s inauguration, following his win in last month’s US presidential election.

His post continued: “Those responsible will be hit ******* than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the ******* States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!”

His words echoed comments made during July’s *********** National Convention, when he threatened a “very big price” if hostages were not returned.

During the recent election campaign, Trump presented himself as the anti-war candidate, suggesting for example that he could end the conflict in Ukraine “in a day”.

A ceasefire in a linked conflict in Lebanon – between ******* and Hezbollah, a group allied to ****** – came into effect last week, but has been

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After the Lebanon ceasefire was agreed, the US said it would make another push with regional powers for a ceasefire in Gaza, involving the release of hostages and the removal of ****** from power.

Updating reporters on Monday, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters: “The main stumbling block continues to be ******.”

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#Trump #appears #threaten #****** #***** #pay #hostages

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