US President Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum to Hamas, demanding the release of all hostages held by the militant group in Gaza by midday Saturday. If the deadline is not met, he said he would propose canceling the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and “let hell break out.”
Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, Trump expressed frustration over the condition of the recently freed hostages and Hamas’ announcement that it would halt further releases. He emphasised the need for all captives to be released at once rather than in small groups.
“As far as I’m concerned, if all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock, I think it’s an appropriate time. I would say, cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out,” Trump said.
He said he wanted the hostages released en masse, instead of a few at a time. “We want ’em all back.”
He also warned that Israel might choose to act independently of his recommendations and suggested that he may speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the matter.
Trump further indicated that he might suspend US financial aid to Jordan and Egypt if they refuse to accept Palestinian refugees from Gaza. His comments come ahead of his scheduled meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah on Tuesday.
Trump’s remarks also reignited controversy over his proposal for a US-led redevelopment of Gaza. His plan, first mentioned on February 4 after a meeting with Netanyahu in Washington, includes the resettlement of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents and a transformation of the territory into a luxury coastal destination dubbed the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
He suggested that displaced Palestinians would not have the right to return to Gaza, contradicting earlier statements from his officials that their relocation would only be temporary.
Asked if Palestinians would have the right to return to Gaza, Trump said: “No, they wouldn’t because they’re going to have much better housing. I’m talking about building a permanent place for them,” he said, adding it would take years for Gaza to be habitable again.
Trump’s proposal has been widely condemned by Gaza residents, Arab states, and human rights advocates, who have labeled it as a form of ethnic cleansing.
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri called Trump’s comments “irresponsible,” warning that such plans could further destabilise the region. Meanwhile, Netanyahu, while praising the redevelopment proposal, suggested that Palestinians could return to Gaza once it was rebuilt.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also weighed in, stating that Palestinians would need to “live somewhere else in the interim” during Gaza’s reconstruction, though he did not explicitly rule out their permanent displacement.
The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, established last month, is now at risk of collapse after Hamas announced on Monday that it would stop releasing Israeli hostages, citing alleged Israeli violations of the agreement.
Arab nations, including Egypt and Jordan, have strongly opposed any forced transfer of Palestinians, warning that such actions could destabilise the region. Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty conveyed his country’s opposition to the plan in a meeting with Rubio, emphasising that Arab states support the Palestinians in rejecting displacement.
Despite the widespread criticism, Trump doubled down on his vision for Gaza’s redevelopment, comparing it to a real estate project.
“I would own this. Think of it as a real estate development for the future. It would be a beautiful piece of land. No big money spent,” he said.
