US President-elect Donald Trump issued a stern warning of severe consequences in the Middle East if the hostages being held by Hamas are not freed by his inauguration just weeks away.
“Everybody is talking about the hostages who are being held so violently, inhumanely, and against the will of the entire World, in the Middle East – But it’s all talk and no action!” said Trump on his social media platform Truth Social.
“Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released before January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity,” said Trump.
“Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!” he added.
Israel estimates that there are currently 101 Israeli prisoners still being held in Gaza.
This figure comes nearly 14 months into a war in which Israel has killed over 44,000 people and injured 105,000 more, mostly women and children, leaving the Gaza Strip a wasteland.
