Trump Addresses Hostage Situation with Hamas
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump told Fox News’ “Hannity” that he expects all hostages held by Hamas since October 7, 2023, to be released by Monday, whether alive or not.
Later that evening, he shared on Truth Social that Israel and Hamas have reached a preliminary agreement on a peace plan supported by the U.S. When questioned by Sean Hannity about the ongoing conflict and devastation in Gaza, Trump expressed optimism about the future for both sides.
“I think you’re going to see a lot change. People will start to get along, and Gaza will be rebuilt. We’ve established a peace council, and I believe it’s going to be very influential. This situation in Gaza has been pivotal,” Trump remarked. “People’s lives will have value. It feels like the Middle East is coming together in a way that’s quite incredible.”
He noted, “Some countries possess immense wealth, and even a small portion of that could significantly aid the region. We’ll play a role in that, but the priority is releasing the hostages. Perhaps that’s in the works for Monday. It’s a dire situation. They’re hiding deep underground, and as we speak, a lot is happening to facilitate their release.”
As the second anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war looms, Hamas indicated on Friday it might agree to release all remaining hostages and cede power as part of a ceasefire deal proposed by Trump.
Hostages have been steadily released since Trump resumed his presidency, but reports indicate that 48 are still in Gaza, with 26 confirmed dead. Communications suggest that the release will include the remains of the deceased, as Trump mentioned he had spoken to many parents of the victims. He underscored how parents are often just as eager to bring their children’s bodies home as they would be if the children were alive.
“I’ve talked to several of them, and in most cases, the parents are more keen to have their child’s body back than anything else,” Trump noted. “One mother expressed, ‘We want our baby’s body back.’ It’s heartbreaking, especially since my own son is in his twenties. That’s the crucial aspect of this situation,” he added.
The proposed deal is set to be presented to Israel’s cabinet on Thursday. If it gets the green light, Israeli forces will withdraw to specified borders in Gaza within 24 hours, after which Hamas will have 72 hours to free the hostages.
