President Trump has directly warned Hamas militants to immediately release all the hostages held in Gaza or face death.
In a blistering social media post on Wednesday, Mr. Trump addressed Hamas militants and built on a statement he made in his address to Congress the night before, when he said his administration was “bringing back our hostages from Gaza,” without providing details.
“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 posted on Truth Social on Wednesday.
It was the latest example of Mr. Trump’s use of threats to try to cut through obstacles to a desired political objective. Even as he warned the militant group, officials said that the United States and Hamas had held direct talks in Qatar about the hostages, sidestepping separate negotiations involving Hamas and Israel over the terms of the next phase of a cease-fire in Gaza.
The Israeli government has said that about 25 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others are still in Gaza. Mr. Trump, who has directed strong threats at their captors before, said the militants were “sick and twisted” for keeping bodies.
“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,” Mr. Trump wrote.