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Trump Threatens Military Escalation if Hamas Does Not Meet Hostage Release Deadline by Saturday

Trump Threatens Military Escalation if Hamas Does Not Meet Hostage Release Deadline by Saturday

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US President Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum to Hamas, demanding the release of all hostages held in Gaza by midday Saturday, stating that he wants them all returned en masse instead of a few at a time. Trump warned that "all hell is going to break out" if Hamas does not comply. This demand comes as Israel has largely halted 15 months of fighting in the Gaza Strip, with efforts to salvage the truce intensified.

Hamas
1. Hamas intentionally made this announcement five full days before the scheduled release of the prisoners to give mediators enough time to pressure the occupation to fulfil its obligations and to keep the door open for the exchange to take place on time if the occupation adheres to its commitments.
Sami Abu Zuhri
Hamas
1. Trump must remember that there is an agreement that must be respected by both parties and this is the only way to return the prisoners (hostages).
2. The language of threats has no value and further complicates matters.
António Guterres
United Nations
1. We must avoid at all costs the resumption of hostilities in Gaza that would lead to an immense tragedy.
Eric Trump
Republican Party
1. We will definitely be doing other projects in this region. This region has explosive growth, and that's not stopping anytime soon.
Donald Trump
Republican Party
1. We have an opportunity to do something that could be phenomenal. And I don't want to be cute. I don't want to be a wise guy. But the 'Riviera of the Middle East,' this could be something that could be so, this could be so magnificent.
2. As far as I'm concerned, if all of the hostages aren't returned by Saturday at 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. I'd say they ought to be returned by 12 o'clock on Saturday.
Jawad Anani
1. We consider any attempt by Israel or others to push people out of their own houses in Gaza and the West Bank as a criminal act. But any attempt to push those people into Jordan will be tantamount to a declaration of war.
Ibrahim Dalalsha
Horizon Center
1. It's likely that they will reach a compromise before Saturday.
Sean Yom
Temple University
1. The displacement/relocation idea broaches the existential fear of all Jordanians – across the board, from monarchy to society – that Israel will annex all of Palestine, and that resource-poor, socially-restive Jordan will be left picking up the pieces.
2. My sense is that the king is conveying a very urgent message that Trump's disastrous 'plan' is effectively going to destroy Jordan.