(Update) What's It Going To Take For Israel To Finally Wipe Hamas Out?

Hamas Refuses to Free Remaining Hostages After Trump Threats

Story by David Zimmermann - National Review - May 4, 2025

Hamas militants attend the funeral of Marwan Issa, a senior Hamas deputy military commander who was killed in an Israeli airstrike, in the central Gaza Strip, February 7, 2025.© Ramadan Abed/Reuters

Hamas said on Thursday it won’t release the remaining Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza until a deal is struck to commence the cease-fire deal’s second phase, the fate of which remains uncertain.

The terrorist group views negotiations on the next phase as the “best path to free the remaining Israeli hostages,” Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua said. Talks on that phase were set to start in early February, but only limited discussions in preparation for the actual negotiations have been held so far.

In making the statement, Hamas rebuffed President Donald Trump’s Wednesday threat, in which he called for the immediate return of the living hostages and dead bodies that were taken during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

“‘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!” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.

The president also revealed the U.S. would continue sending aid to Israel after repeatedly warning Hamas that there would be “hell to pay” if it didn’t comply with his administration’s ultimatum.

“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. I have just met with your former Hostages whose lives you have destroyed. This is your last warning!” he said. “For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance.”

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Trump also issued a message to the Palestinian people in 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!”

Trump claims t0 be proceeding with his ambitious plan to rebuild Gaza, which would involve relocating Palestinians to other countries while reconstruction is underway. Eventually, as Trump said, the U.S. would “take over” Gaza. The administration has been accused of “ethnic cleansing” by its critics for proposing such an idea.

The threat to Hamas came after reports indicated the White House was negotiating directly with the Iran-backed terror proxy in unprecedented talks. Israel was aware of the discussions, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

Meanwhile, the second phase of the cease-fire agreement has not been agreed upon yet. The first phase concluded on Saturday.

Hamas released 25 Israeli hostages and eight bodies, including Shiri Bibas and her two infant sons, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in the initial phase of the cease-fire that lasted 42 days. Hamas is believed to still have custody of 24 living hostages, including Israeli-American citizen Edan Alexander, in addition to the bodies of 34 more.

In the second phase of the deal, Hamas would have to continue releasing hostages in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners, an Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, and a permanent cease-fire. Hamas has accused Israel of violating the terms of the cease-fire by blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said it supports Trump’s plan for the second phase, in which Hamas would release half of the remaining hostages immediately and return the rest once a permanent cease-fire is reached. Hamas wants to stick with the original agreement that was signed in January.