Trump issues ultimatum for release of Hamas hostages

President-elect Donald Trump on Monday told the world that if the roughly 100 hostages still in Gaza aren’t released before Jan. 20, 2025, their captors will face justice. Trump warned that he will hit Gaza’s Hamas militants with the full might of the U.S. military if they fail to hand over the hostages before he takes office.

Why the sudden demand? Trump’s comments came just hours after the Israel Defense Forces announced the death of Israeli-American citizen Omer Neutra. Palestinian militants killed Neutra during the Oct. 7 attacks and dragged his body back into Gaza, according to a statement from his family. Neutra’s body remained there for more than 420 days, his family said.

Did Trump say anything else in his statement? Trump accused the international community of calling for the release of the hostages through words, but no actions. World leaders, thus far, have failed to take any action to bring the hostages home to their families, the president-elect said.

What do the hostages’ families have to say? The Hostage Families Forum thanked Trump for issuing a clear, uncompromising, and decisive message to Hamas. It called on both the current and incoming administrations to exhaust all options for bringing the hostages home.

Dig deeper: Read Travis K. Kircher’s Q&A in The Sift about one former hostage’s experiences in Hamas captivity in Gaza.