Hamas Warns President Trump: Ceasefire Is The Only Way To Take Home Hostage, Not A Threat

Israeli President Isaac Herzog and the hostages' families called for release. (Wikimedia Commons/Government Press Office/Kobi Gideon)

JAKARTA - Palestinian militant group Hamas has warned US President Donald Trump that the only way to bring home hostages is a ceasefire, a threat only complicates the problem.

It was conveyed in response to President Trump's comments regarding the announcement of plans to postpone the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip provided this weekend.

"Trump must remember, there is a deal that must be respected by both parties, and this is the only way to bring the prisoners (Israel) back. The language of threat has no value and only complicates the problem," senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters.

As previously reported, Palestinian militant group Hamas on Monday announced it would delay the release of Israeli hostages planned for this weekend until further notice, as Israel violated the ceasefire.

"The release of prisoners, scheduled for Saturday, February 15, 2025, will be postponed until further notice, pending re retroactive compliance with occupation and fulfillment of obligations in previous weeks," military wing spokesman Hamas Abu Ubaida said, quoted by The Times of Israel.

However, Hamas said it was open to fulfilling the timely release if Israel stopped the foul. Abu Ubaida said it was committed to a ceasefire agreement, as long as Israel complied.

In response, United States President Donald Trump said Hamas should release all hostages detained by militant groups in Gaza no later than Saturday afternoon or he would propose a cancellation of the Israeli-Hamas ceasefire and "unfortunate chaos to occur."

Separately, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel remained determined to get all the hostages back.

"We will continue to take decisive and cruel action until we return all of our hostages, who are still alive and who have died".

Hamas and Israel agreed to a ceasefire and a gradual release of hostages from January 19, after months of mediation by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, after engaging in the latest conflict that broke out on October 7, 2023.

So far, 16 of the 33 hostages to be released in the first phase of the 42-day deal have returned home, while five Thai hostages have been returned in an unscheduled release.