Trump threatens hell if Gaza hostages are not released

President-elect Donald Trump warned on Tuesday that “hell will break out in the Middle East” if Hamas does not release the hostages it is holding in Gaza until his January 20 inauguration.

“And it won't be good for Hamas and, frankly, it won't be good for anyone,” Trump said at a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida.

“We want to get these hostages back for Israel and for us,” Trump said.

“You know, we actually hold people hostage,” he said. “And I'll say it again, if this deal isn't finalized with the people representing our nation before I get into office, the hell is going to explode.”

Trump did not specify what action he would take if the hostages were not released.

Nearly 100 hostages are believed to be in captivity in the Gaza Strip, and some of them are believed to be dead.

Hamas on Monday published a list containing the names of 34 hostages whom the group said it was ready to release in the first stage of a possible ceasefire agreement with Israel.

Trump again issued the warning as Steve Witkoff, his designated envoy to the Middle East, told reporters that there had been “great progress” in negotiations in Doha, Qatar, aimed at freeing hostages captured during the terrorist group's deadly attack on October 7, 2023. intrusion into Israel.

“I believe we are one step closer to achieving our goal,” Witkoff said after Trump spotted him in the back of the room and called him to the podium to speak.

Witkoff said he expected to return to Doha on Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.

It was unclear what role Witkoff would play in any talks, given that Trump won't take office for another two weeks and Witkoff is not formally a representative of the U.S. government.

Earlier on Tuesday, Hamas said it stood by its demand that Israel completely halt military operations against Gaza as part of any deal to free the hostages.

Israel, in turn, claims that the war will continue until the hostages are released and Hamas is disbanded, according to Reuters information service.

“I don't want to say too much” about the status of the Doha talks, Witkoff said.

But he added: “I'm very hopeful that by the inauguration we'll have some really good things to announce on behalf of the president.”

He credited Trump's “reputation and what he said” with “steering the negotiations.”

“I think they heard it loud and clear and they should have it over with before the inauguration,” Witkoff said.

“We hope that everything will work out and we will save some people's lives,” he added.