President-elect Trump threatened on Monday that if hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are not released before his inauguration “there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge.”
Why it matters: This is the first time since he won the election that Trump has weighed in publicly on the hostages that are being held in Gaza.
- The hostage families hope that his involvement both in private and in public could lead to a breakthrough in the stalled negotiations for their release.
Driving the news: Trump’s statement in a post on Truth Social came a few hours after the IDF announced that Omer Neutra, an American-Israeli hostage held by Hamas, had died during the Oct. 7 attack and that his body was taken to Gaza.
- For more than 420 days, Neutra’s family didn’t have any information on whether he was dead or alive.
- A senior Israeli intelligence official said the determination was made after IDF obtained new information that established the fact that Neutra had been killed.
- Hamas released a video on Saturday with proof of life from U.S. citizen Edan Alexander, who is also being held hostage in Gaza, who called on Trump to negotiate for his release.
- Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Axios in an interview that Trump wants to see a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza before he assumes office on Jan. 20.
What they’re saying: Trump wrote on Truth Social that the hostages “are being held so violently, inhumanely, and against the will” and threatened “ALL HELL TO PAY” if they are not released.
- He added: “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!”
- Earlier on Monday, President Biden issued a statement expressing condolences to Neutra’s family.
- “To all the families of those still held hostage: We see you. We are with you. And I will not stop working to bring your loved ones back home where they belong,” Biden said.
- Ronen and Orna Neutra, parents of Omer Neutra, said in a statement they demand action and not words in order to bring the hostages back home.
- “We call upon the Israeli government to work with President Biden and President-elect Trump, to use all of their leverage and resources to return all 101 hostages — living and the deceased — to their families as soon as possible,” they said.
