Trump Delivers Final Threat to Hamas Concerning Captives

In a series of statements over the past few days, US President Donald Trump has been urging Hamas to release the 47 hostages they have been holding in Gaza since the October 2023 attacks.

On Sunday, Trump issued a "last warning" to Hamas, demanding they accept a deal to release the hostages. He did not elaborate on the terms or consequences of not accepting the deal. Previously, Trump had stated that if Hamas does not release all hostages and return the bodies of the dead, "it is OVER for you."

Trump's latest warning comes after 700 days of captivity for the hostages, during which relatives of the hostages released yellow balloons to mark the occasion. The Israeli military states that 25 of the 251 hostages seized during the attack are dead, and Israel is seeking the return of their remains.

The hostages, who have been identified in videos published by Hamas, are believed to be kept in Gaza City under the control of Hamas militants. The Israeli military has been conducting a retaliatory offensive in the Gaza Strip, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcing that the military is "deepening" its assault on Gaza Strip's key urban centre.

The October 7, 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures. Israel's army has bombed a residential tower in Gaza City on Sunday, marking the third such bombing in as many days.

The situation has caused unrest among Israeli protesters, who took to the streets on Saturday, calling on their government to reverse the decision to seize Gaza City. Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas prevent AFP from independently verifying the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency or the Israeli military.

Despite the challenges, the United Nations considers the figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza as reliable. Trump stated that the US is "very deep in negotiations with Hamas" and suggested that more hostages could have died in Gaza.

As of the latest update, 47 hostages are believed to still be in Gaza, and Israel has accepted Trump's terms for their release. However, the fate of the remaining hostages and the dead remains uncertain. The situation in Gaza continues to be a source of international concern, with calls for a peaceful resolution growing louder.