US President Donald Trump reiterated his ultimatum for Hamas to release all hostages from Gaza by Saturday or for the ceasefire with Israel to be canceled.
“Yes,” said Trump outside the White House on Tuesday after being asked if the deadline he had announced a day prior was still being met.
Hamas must have all hostages out by Saturday or “all bets are off”.
“We’re going to take Gaza,” Trump said before the meeting.
Trump’s latest extraordinary intervention in the Middle East came after Hamas threatened to postpone any further hostage-prisoner exchanges, placing the fragile six-week truce that took effect on January 19 at risk.
Describing Hamas’s move as “terrible”, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he would “let that be Israel’s decision” on what should ultimately happen to the ceasefire.
“But as far as I’m concerned, if all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday 12 o’clock — I think it’s an appropriate time — I would say cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out,” Trump said.
Trump said that “all” the remaining hostages should be freed, “not in dribs and drabs, not two and one and three and four and two.”
“We want them all back. I’m speaking for myself. Israel can override it, but for myself, Saturday at 12 o’clock — and if they’re not here, all hell is going to break out.”
Trump said he would probably speak to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the timeline he had just proposed.
He did not elaborate on what the threat entailed, saying only that “Hamas will find out what I mean.” Asked if he was ruling out the potential involvement of US forces, Trump replied: “We’ll see what happens.”
The US president also threatened to halt aid to allies Jordan and Egypt if they refuse to take in Palestinians under his controversial plan for the United States to “take over” Gaza.
“Maybe,” Trump told reporters when asked if he would suspend billions of dollars in US assistance.
“If they don’t agree, I would conceivably withhold it.”
Trump is due to meet Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Washington this week.
