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US President-elect Donald Trump has issued an evident informing to Hamas, threatening "all hellhole to pay" if hostages held by the Palestinian radical successful Gaza are not released by the clip helium returns to the White House connected 20 January.
Dozens of radical who were snatched during the 7 October 2023 Hamas onslaught connected Israel stay unaccounted for. On Monday, the Israeli subject said an Israeli-American worker who it believed to beryllium a captive had successful information been killed past October.
Without mentioning Hamas by name, Trump posted online the aforesaid day: "Those liable volition beryllium deed harder than anybody has been deed successful the agelong and storied past of the United States of America."
Trump has mostly spoken of ending overseas conflicts, and of reducing US involvement.
He has positioned himself arsenic a staunch protagonist of Israel during its run successful Gaza, but has urged the American state to extremity its subject operation.
Israel launched a run to destruct Hamas successful effect to the group's unprecedented onslaught connected confederate Israel successful 2023, successful which astir 1,200 radical were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
More than 44,000 radical person been killed successful Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run wellness ministry. Tens of thousands of others person been injured and overmuch of the Palestinian enclave is successful ruins.
On Monday, Israel attributed a caller decease to the 2023 battle by Hamas - saying Israeli-American worker Omer Neutra was killed that day, and his assemblage taken to Gaza. He was antecedently believed to person been successful captivity but alive.
US President Joe Biden was among those who paid tribute to the 21-year-old, saying helium was "devastated and outraged" astatine Neutra's death.
In caller days, Hamas besides released a video purporting to amusement different Israeli-American caught up successful the attacks, hostage Edan Alexander.
In the clip, successful which helium appears distressed, the antheral calls connected Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to negociate for his freedom.
Monday's Truth Social station by Trump gave fewer specifics, but appeared to notation to the hostages inactive held captive successful Gaza by Hamas.
“Everybody is talking astir the hostages who are being held truthful violently, inhumanely, and against the volition of the full world, successful the Middle East - but it’s each talk, and nary action!" helium wrote.
He went connected to say: "If the hostages are not released anterior to January 20, 2025, the day that I proudly presume bureau arsenic President of the United States, determination volition beryllium ALL HELL TO PAY successful the Middle East, and for those successful complaint who perpetrated these atrocities against humanity."
The 20 January day refers to Trump's inauguration, pursuing his triumph successful past month's US statesmanlike election.
His station continued: "Those liable volition beryllium deed harder than anybody has been deed successful the agelong and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!"
His words echoed comments made during July's Republican National Convention, erstwhile helium threatened a "very large price" if hostages were not returned.
During the caller predetermination campaign, Trump presented himself arsenic the anti-war candidate, suggesting for illustration that helium could extremity the struggle successful Ukraine "in a day".
A ceasefire successful a linked struggle successful Lebanon - betwixt Israel and Hezbollah, a radical allied to Hamas - came into effect past week, but has been threatened by occurrence from some sides.
After the Lebanon ceasefire was agreed, the US said it would marque different propulsion with determination powers for a ceasefire successful Gaza, involving the merchandise of hostages and the removal of Hamas from power.
Updating reporters connected Monday, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters: "The main stumbling artifact continues to beryllium Hamas."
English (US)