GAZA, (PIC)
The Hamas Movement has affirmed that US president Donald Trump’s threats against it will only complicate the situation concerning the ceasefire agreement and encourage the Israeli occupation government to be more intransigent in its position.
“There is an agreement that has been signed, with Washington as a mediator, which includes the release of all prisoners in three stages. Hamas has fulfilled its part in the first stage, while Israel is evading the second stage,” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qasem said in a statement on Thursday.
“If Trump is serious about having Israeli prisoners released, he should pressure Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu to begin negotiating on the second stage of the Gaza agreement,” spokesman Qasem added.
The spokesman warned that the Israeli government might take advantage of Trump’s threats to tighten its siege on the Gaza Strip and starve its population.
On Wednesday, Trump issued what he called a “last warning” to Hamas to release the Israeli captives being held in Gaza, saying there would be “hell to pay” if the captives were not released.
“I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say,” Trump threatened in a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform, apparently referring to a shipment of heavy bombs he sent to Israel.
“Also, to the people of Gaza: A beautiful future awaits, but not if you hold hostages. If you do, you are dead,” he added.
Trump’s threats came just hours after the White House confirmed it was holding direct talks with Hamas over the release of the remaining Israeli captives.
