The Hamas militant group dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest threat on Thursday, reaffirming that it will only release the remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas accused Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting to renege on the ceasefire agreement reached in January. Under the deal, a second phase of negotiations was supposed to begin in early February, involving the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire, and Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza.
Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua stated that negotiations on this second phase are “the best path to free the remaining Israeli hostages,” though only preliminary talks have taken place.
On Wednesday, Trump issued what he described as a “last warning” to Hamas after meeting with eight former hostages. Meanwhile, the White House confirmed it had engaged in direct talks with the militant group—an unprecedented move given that Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., Israel, and other Western nations.
“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!”
Both Israel and Hamas have a history of holding onto the remains of adversaries for leverage in prisoner exchanges. Hamas is believed to still be holding 24 living hostages from the October 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war, including Israeli-American Edan Alexander. Additionally, the group is keeping the bodies of 34 individuals killed either during the initial assault or while in captivity, along with the remains of a soldier killed in the 2014 war.
During the initial 42-day ceasefire, which ended Saturday, Hamas released 25 Israeli hostages and the remains of eight others in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Israel has endorsed a U.S.-backed proposal for the second phase of the agreement, in which Hamas would release half of the remaining hostages immediately and the rest once a permanent ceasefire is secured. However, Hamas has rejected this plan, insisting on the original terms agreed upon in January.
In an effort to pressure Hamas into compliance, Israel has cut off deliveries of food, fuel, medicine, and other supplies to Gaza’s 2 million residents. Israeli officials have also warned of “additional consequences” if Hamas does not resume hostage releases.
The progress of direct talks between U.S. officials and Hamas remains uncertain. The Trump administration has pledged full support for Israel’s stated war objectives—returning all hostages and dismantling Hamas—raising questions about the compatibility of U.S. diplomatic efforts with Israel’s military strategy.
Mkhaimar Abusada, a political science professor at Gaza’s Al-Azhar University currently in Egypt, noted that Washington’s direct engagement with Hamas could complicate Israel’s ability to restart military operations.
“The current U.S. administration is trying to avoid a return to war in Gaza in all possible ways,” Abusada said.
Hamas-led militants killed approximately 1,200 people—mostly civilians—during the October 7 attack and took 251 hostages. While many have been released through ceasefire negotiations or rescue operations, Israeli forces have recovered the bodies of dozens of others.
Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, primarily women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. Israel claims it has killed more than 17,000 Hamas fighters, though it has not provided independent verification.
The ongoing conflict has devastated Gaza’s infrastructure, displacing most of its population. Hundreds of thousands are now living in makeshift shelters, schools, or war-damaged buildings, relying heavily on international aid for survival.
