President-elect Donald Trump issued a stern warning on Tuesday regarding the ongoing situation with Hamas, who continues to hold 100 hostages in Gaza. While speaking to the press at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump was questioned by CNN’s Alayna Treene about his previous statements indicating that there would be “hell to pay” if the hostages are not freed before he takes office on January 20.
Trump responded firmly, saying, “Let me put it this way: They better let the hostages come back soon.”

These remarks stemmed from a post Trump made on Truth Social last month. In the post, he addressed the international outcry over the hostages, emphasizing the failure to take action despite widespread condemnation.
“Everybody is talking about the hostages who are being held so violently, inhumanely, and against the will of the entire World, in the Middle East – But it’s all talk, and no action!” Trump wrote.
He continued by warning of severe consequences if the hostages are not released by January 20, 2025, the day he is set to become President. “Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity. Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!” he urged.
Trump later reiterated his commitment to working for the safe return of the hostages in a press briefing two weeks after his post, explaining the efforts being made to resolve the crisis. “We’re trying to help very strongly in getting the hostages back, as you know, with Israel and the Middle East. We’re working very much on that,” he stated at the time.
In response to the crisis, the families of the American hostages in Gaza met with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan last month to discuss the urgent need for collaboration between the current administration and Trump’s incoming team. They stressed the importance of immediate action to secure the release of the hostages.
Sullivan reassured the families, reaffirming the Biden administration’s commitment to working with President-elect Trump’s team to ensure the safe return of all hostages. He assured them that securing the hostages’ release remains a top priority for President Biden’s administration and provided updates on ongoing negotiations, promising continued efforts to resolve the situation.
{Matzav.com}