US President Donald Trump on Saturday delivered a stern ultimatum to Hamas, demanding the release of hostages still held in Gaza, and warning that this would be his “last warning.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Israel had already accepted his terms and urged Hamas to do the same. “Everyone wants the hostages home. Everyone wants this war to end! The Israelis have accepted my terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well. I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning, there will not be another one,” he wrote.
According to The Times of Israel, 48 hostages remain in Gaza, with about 20 believed to be alive. In response to Trump’s remarks, Hamas issued a statement saying it was ready to “immediately sit at the negotiating table” if Israel agreed to a ceasefire, a complete withdrawal from Gaza, and the establishment of a Palestinian-led committee to govern the territory. Hamas added it had received “some ideas from the American side aimed at reaching a ceasefire” and was in “constant contact with mediators” to turn them into a comprehensive agreement.
Trump’s comments came shortly after CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper visited Israel for a situational assessment with Israel’s Chief of General Staff LTG Eyal Zamir. The Israeli Defence Forces said discussions focused on operational cooperation, regional stability, and joint efforts to address security threats. Admiral Cooper also toured communities near Gaza during his visit.
