‘All hell will break out in the Middle East if...’ Donald Trump's dire warning to Hamas

Trump concluded by reiterating his threat, cautioning that if a deal was not struck before he took office, the consequences would be severe.

US President-elect Donald Trump has issued a stark warning, stating that "all hell will break out in the Middle East" if hostages held by Hamas are not released by Inauguration Day, repeating the threat multiple times. Trump did not specify the actions he might take if the hostages are not freed by the time he assumes office.

The hostages, including some Americans, were seized on October 7, 2023, and officials report that around 100 remain in captivity in Gaza. However, there are concerns that many may have died in captivity. Trump’s statement came during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, where he emphasized the urgency of the situation.

“All hell will break out. If those hostages aren’t back, I don’t want to hurt your negotiation, if they’re not back by the time I get into office, all hell will break out in the Middle East,” Trump said. He is set to be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on January 20.

Trump's remarks were made in response to a question about the status of negotiations with Hamas for the release of American hostages. Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steven Charles Witkoff, who recently returned from the region, expressed optimism, stating that the negotiations were making significant progress. “I believe we’ve been on the verge of it. I don’t want to discuss sort of what’s delayed it, no point in being negative in any way. But I think it’s the president, his stature, what he’s said he expects, the red lines he’s put out there, that’s driving this negotiation,” Witkoff said.

Witkoff also highlighted that substantial progress had been made, adding that he was hopeful that good news could be announced before Trump’s inauguration. “I actually believe that we’re working in tandem in a really good way, but it’s the president, his reputation, the things that he has said that are driving this negotiation. So hopefully it’ll all work out and we’ll save some lives,” Witkoff noted.

Meanwhile, ongoing negotiations between Hamas and Israel in Qatar have seen Hamas propose the release of 34 hostages, including two dual US citizens, in exchange for a ceasefire deal.

In response to questions about the situation, Trump reiterated his demand for the immediate release of all hostages by January 20. “It will not be good for Hamas and it will not be good frankly for anyone. All hell will break out. I don’t have to say anymore, but that’s what it is. They should have given them back a long time ago — they should have never taken them. There should have never been the attack of October 7th. People forget that, but there was and many people were killed,” Trump said.

Trump also described the emotional toll of the hostage situation, citing the heartbreaking pleas of parents whose children had been taken by Hamas. “They’re no longer hostages. I have people from Israel and others calling, begging me to get — we also had people there from the United States just so you know. They’re holding some so-called hostages from the US, but I’ve had mothers come to me and fathers crying, can I get the body of their son back? Can I get the body of their daughter back?” Trump shared.

He also recounted a specific incident involving a young woman, expressing his outrage at the treatment she received. “That beautiful girl where they threw her in the car, pulled her by her ponytail and threw her in the car like she was a sack of potatoes. I said, what happened to her? Sir, she’s dead. Like a 19, 20-year-old, beautiful girl. The way they treated her,” he said.

Trump concluded by reiterating his threat, cautioning that if a deal was not struck before he took office, the consequences would be severe. “I tell this, I don’t want to hurt the negotiation. If the deal isn’t done before I take office, which is now going to be two weeks, all hell will break out in the Middle East,” Trump said.

(With inputs from PTI)