US President Donald Trump emphasized uncertainty surrounding the release of hostages held by Hamas, reiterating his previous threat that “all hell will break out” if Hamas does not meet his deadline of Saturday at noon for the full release of captives. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump expressed concern over the condition of hostages already released, noting how some appeared severely weakened after their captivity.
Reflecting on the hostages freed last week, Trump recounted the troubling sight of a man who had once been healthy but now looked as though he had just emerged from a concentration camp. “It looked like a Holocaust picture,” Trump remarked, highlighting the mistreatment the hostages had endured at the hands of Hamas. He also shared the story of a young woman who suffered severe injuries when she tried to protect herself from a bullet. “Her hand was blown off while trying to stop a bullet aimed at her face,” Trump said, underscoring the brutality of Hamas’ actions.
Trump maintained that while the situation was ultimately dependent on Israel’s actions, he was firm on his stance. “If it were up to me, I’d take a very hard stance,” he said. Despite Hamas’ earlier statement refusing to release hostages, Trump noted that the group had suddenly changed its position. “Hamas has totally changed,” he said. “They want to release hostages now again, but they had initially said they wouldn’t.”
Trump also emphasized his belief that all hostages should be released, expressing skepticism that the captives already freed were the worst affected. “I think the ones that follow will probably look a lot worse,” he added. “I think they’re sending out their most healthy, and Hamas has been hit hard.”
Earlier in the week, Hamas threatened to delay the next hostage release, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement. Trump had previously set a firm deadline for the full return of hostages by Saturday at noon, warning that “all bets are off” if the deadline is not met. “All hell is going to break out,” Trump said in a statement on February 10.
When asked what “all hell” would entail, Trump cryptically responded, “You’ll find out, and they’ll find out — Hamas will find out what I mean.” He clarified that while Israel could override his statement, he personally stood firm on his deadline.
On Friday, Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office confirmed it had received the names of three male hostages—Sagui Dekel Chen, Sasha Troufanov, and Iair Horn—who are scheduled to be released by Hamas on Saturday, as part of an ongoing prisoner exchange under a ceasefire agreement. This follows recent releases, including 16 Israelis and five Thai hostages.
However, many hostages remain in Gaza. As of October 7, 2023, 73 of the 251 individuals abducted by Hamas are still being held, including at least 35 confirmed dead, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).