Donald Trump warned Monday that the “price to pay would be terrible” for Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip if the hostages were not released before he takes office on January 20.
97 people are still in the hands of Hamas.
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Israel and Hamas at war
Donald Trump's warning. A few weeks before his arrival at the White House, the president-elect wants to show that the fate of the hostages still held in the Gaza Strip will be one of his priorities. “If the hostages are not released before January 20 (…), the price to pay will be TERRIBLE in the Middle East and for those responsible who perpetrated these atrocities against humanity“, warned the Republican on Truth Social, his social network. Before commenting: “Everyone is talking about the hostages being held in such a violent, inhumane manner and against the will of the entire world in the Middle East. But it's all talk and there is no action!”.
“Hamas terrorizes many countries, including ours”
During the unprecedented attack by Hamas commandos on October 7, 2023, 251 people were kidnapped on Israeli soil. A total of 97 hostages remain in Gaza, 34 of whom were declared dead by the army. Among the detainees, there are still foreigners, six Thais and one Nepalese, and several dual nationals. Notably Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American who celebrated his 20th birthday during his captivity, and whose video was released last week.
The footage, whose recording date cannot be verified, shows a young man asking to pressure the Israeli government for his release and that of all the hostages still held captive in Gaza. The United States called this video “cruel reminder that Hamas terrorizes many countries, including ours“, in a statement released Saturday by the White House.
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