DONALD Trump has delivered Hamas a chilling “last warning” to return all the hostages immediately or face death and destruction.
The Republican’s powerful promise to obliterate the terror group comes after the US officially held secret talks with Hamas for the first time in their history.
APAImages / PolarisThe US has officially held secret talks with murderous terror group Hamas for the first time in their history[/caption]
APPresident Donald Trump has been close with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since he returned to office[/caption]
AFPWhite House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump believes the talks are ‘the right thing for the American people’[/caption]
Truth SocialTrump gave a chilling ultimatum to Hamas telling them to hand over the hostages immediately[/caption]
Washington is believed to have been avoiding contact with the Palestinian militants since the deadly October 7 attacks which drew the globe into disrepute.
But “two direct meetings” between a US representative and Hamas have taken place recently, a Palestinian source told the BBC.
“Several communications” have followed ever since, they added.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed talks had taken place with the focus being on the Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.
Hamas are said to still have around 59 of the 251 hostages they first kidnapped with brute force during the horrors of October 7.
Only 24 are believed to be alive still with another 35 bodies also expected to be returned for official burials by Israel.
Some of the unreturned hostages are believed to be American.
Trump believes the talks are “the right thing for the American people” because “there are American lives on the line,” Leavitt said.
He took to his Truth Social account tonight to once again send a clear and powerful ultimatum to Hamas.
He wrote: “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!”
The President then warned that he is prepared to send Israel “everything it needs to finish the job” and eliminate the terror group forever.
The post ended: “This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance.
“Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!”
Leavitt also confirmed Israel are aware of any US-Hamas communications and were consulted prior to the talks.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s office made a vague statement which read: “During talks with the US, Israel expressed its opinion about the issue of direct talks with Hamas.”
Leavitt went on to heap praise on special envoy for hostages, Adam Boehler’s work in helping to get answers out of Hamas.
Leavitt told reporters Boehler is working in a “good faith effort to do what’s right for the American people”.
GettyTrump, poses for photos with the family of Edan Alexander who is still said to be trapped in captivity[/caption]
AlamyAmerican-Israeli hostage Itay Chen is believed to be dead in Gaza but is yet to be returned[/caption]
A hostage poster for couple Judi Weinstein and Gad HaggaiRex
AFPOmer Neutra was murdered on October 7 but his body remains in Hamas’ terror tunnels[/caption]
Boehler is believed to have the most authority in any negotiations taking place.
According to reports, he met with Hamas representatives in the Qatari capital of Doha in recent weeks.
Discussions of a broader deal to help a long-term ceasefire be agreed upon has also been reported, according to sources.
There has yet to be a deal reached between Washington and Hamas on anything, it is believed.
The talks have left some shocked due to a longstanding US policy which prevents direct contact with entities listed as terrorist organisations.
Hamas were officially designated a terror group by Washington in 1997.
TRUMP’S GAZA VISION
It comes as Trump has previously schemed after plans to revamp Gaza into “the Riviera of the Middle East”.
He has shared AI pictures of his controversial plans for the enclave as well as a bizarre video of what a Trump-led resort could one day look like.
The jaw-dropping video shows his vision of bomb-blasted Gaza, where 48,000 are reported to have been killed, rebuilt as a glitzy holiday resort.
The new 30-second clip starts with Hamas fighters and children standing in a rubble-covered road before it poses the question: “Gaza 2025. What’s next?”
Trump’s clip then cuts to children running along a sunny beach and Tesla cars driving through a clean palm tree-lined boulevard.
Trump has previously called the strip a “demolition site”, and said Gaza could be turned into a “Middle East Riviera” under US control.
America would be “responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site” and would “get rid of the destroyed buildings”.
His plan includes relocating two million Palestinians in Gaza to neighbouring Arab countries and rebuilding the area.
“We’ll own it,” he said, adding that two million Palestinians would be relocated to countries including Egypt and Jordan.
But he later reiterated that America would not be investing any money – nor boots on the ground.
Much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble from Israeli bombardment after Netanyahu vowed to wipe out Hamas in revenge for the terror proxy’s October 7 atrocity.
Where would Palestinians relocate to?
DONALD Trump said two million Palestinians would have to leave Gaza before it could be redeveloped.
He said those displaced would go to “various domains” – including Egypt and Jordan.
Both countries and other Arab nations have rejected this notion.
Suggestions have also been made that Palestinians could be resettled in Ireland.
Israel’s defence minister last week tabled the idea of taking tens of thousands of Palestinians out of Gaza by air and sea.
Israel Katz said Ireland, Spain and Norway – which last year recognised a Palestinian state – would be “legally obligated” to take displaced Gaza residents.
He said: “Countries like Spain, Ireland, Norway, and others, which have levelled accusations and false claims against Israel over its actions in Gaza, are legally obligated to allow any Gaza resident to enter their territories.”
Dr Kobby Barda told The Sun: “There are 150,00 ghost houses in Ireland.
“If you have a ghost house where no one is living, you need to pay tax to the government.
“There will be no problem for Israel to get them to Ben Gurion airport, and put them on a plane and fly them over to Dublin.”
Ireland’s foreign minister Simon Harris hit back at Katz’s remarks, branding them “unhelpful and provocative”.
Instagram Trump shared a bizarre video of what a US-led resort could one day look like in Gaza[/caption]
Instagram Donald Trump’s AI vision for Gaza includes a golden statue of himself[/caption]
Instagram The President can be seen sipping cocktails next to Benjamin Netanyahu at a hotel[/caption]
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