Trump Warns 'Hell Breaks' If Hostages Are Not Released Before Inauguration

Israeli military operations in Gaza. (Source: Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - United States President-elect Donald Trump has again warned of his threat of 'chaotic' in the Middle East, while Palestinian militant group Hamas remains on the conditions he has requested, as efforts to end the conflict in the Gaza Strip continue to be improved.

Israeli representatives and Hamas have resumed indirect talks with mediators Qatar, Egypt, and the United States since last week, in order to end the latest conflict in Gaza that broke out on October 7, 2023.

Hamas remains on its demands to end Gaza's war under a hostage deal, as Trump's deadline draws near

The United States government under President Joe Biden continued to seek an agreement before he stepped down, while his successor Trump had called for all hostages to be released and an agreement was reached before his inauguration on January 20.

Hamas said it would free the remaining hostages only if Israel agreed to end the war and withdraw all its troops from Gaza.

Israel itself said it would not end the war until Hamas was dissolved and all hostages were released.

"Hamas is the only obstacle to the release of the hostages," Israel's director-general, Eden Bar Tal, told reporters at a news conference, saying Israel is fully committed to reaching an agreement.

Meanwhile, Hamas Osama Hamdan officials at a press conference in Aljir said Israel was to blame for thwarting all attempts to reach an agreement.

Although he said he would not provide details on the final round of negotiations, he reiterated Hamas' terms, namely "the complete cessation of aggression and the full withdrawal from the occupied territory".

In a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida Trump reiterated his threat, 'it will break' in the Middle East if all hostages in Gaza are not released before their inauguration.

"The hell will break out in the Middle East, and it won't be good for Hamas, and it won't be good for anyone," Trump said, quoted by The Times of Israel.

"I don't need to say it anymore, but that's the reality," Trump said, quoted from CNN, adding "it should have never happened" Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7.

Commenting on Trump's threat, Hamdan replied diplomatically: "I think the US president should make a more disciplined and diplomatic statement."

In one important step towards the deal, a Hamas official told Reuters on Sunday they had completed a list submitted by Israel containing 34 hostages who could be released in the early stages of the ceasefire, along with Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel.

The list includes Israeli female soldiers, plus elderly civilians, women, and minors.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Israel had not yet received confirmation of whether those on the list were still alive.

As previously reported, the number and list of hostages who will be released are obstacles that have not been agreed upon by both sides, with Israel seeking to free as many hostages as possible in the first phase, unsure of the two stages of the planned ceasefire.