As part of the Trump-brokered peace deal, Hamas was supposed to release all living hostages and the remains of those deceased that they have held since their October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel. However, they have largely reneged on the latter obligation, returning only 15 of the 28 remains.
The latest threat from former President Trump comes as part of efforts by him and his administration to keep the ceasefire intact after it was violated by Hamas last weekend. During a visit to Israel earlier this week, Vice President JD Vance warned, “If Hamas does not co-operate, it will be obliterated.”
Trump also recently suggested that U.S. allies in the Middle East are prepared to enter Gaza “with a heavy force and ‘straighten our Hamas’ if Hamas continues to act badly.” Despite these warnings, Trump has expressed hope that such military action will ultimately be unnecessary.
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Earlier on Saturday, Trump expressed confidence that the ceasefire will hold, while also placing the blame on Hamas if it collapses again. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Malaysia, he said, “I think it will hold. Well, if it doesn’t hold, that would be Hamas. Hamas will be not hard to take care of very quickly. I hope it holds for Hamas too because they gave us their word on something, so I think it’s going to hold. And if it doesn’t, then they’ll have a very big problem.”
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/3864274/trump-new-deadline-hamas-return-bodies-dead-hostages/