The United States is in “very deep negotiations with Hamas” to bring an end to the current conflict in the Gaza Strip, President Donald Trump announced on Sept. 5.
The Hamas terrorist group, which continues to hold hostages taken from Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, has so far rejected any deals to end the nearly two-year Israeli military campaign across the Gaza Strip, despite widespread death and destruction throughout the territory.
Addressing the ongoing hostage situation and the surrounding conflict, Trump reiterated calls for Hamas to release all of the remaining hostages in a bid to end the carnage.
Referring to the hostages at a White House news briefing, Trump said: “Let them all out right now. Let them all out, and much better things will happen” for Hamas.
Trump added that, if the terror group does not release the hostages: “It’s going to be a tough situation. It’s going to be nasty.
“That’s my opinion. Israel’s choice, but that’s my opinion.”
In recent weeks, Israeli forces have been ramping up operations in Gaza City, which is located toward the northern end of the embattled strip of territory. The Israeli military has claimed responsibility for strikes targeting high-rises in the city, and footage has shown strikes toppling at least one tower there.
As many as 20 captives may still be alive, although, Trump said, “There could be some that have recently died.
“I hope that’s wrong.”
The bodies of about 30 more captives also remain in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas released a video on Sept. 5 with Israeli hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal. In the video, apparently dated Aug. 28, Gilboa-Dalal states that he and other hostages are being held in Gaza City and fear that they will be killed in the intensifying Israeli operation.
Trump offered few specifics about what Hamas is requesting in negotiations for the release of the remaining hostages.
“They’re asking for some things that are fine,” Trump began, when asked about Hamas’s demands, but said the initial Hamas attack on Israel—in which about 1,200 were killed and thousands more were wounded—must be taken into consideration in the negotiations.
Throughout the conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has articulated a goal to ensure that Hamas is defeated and that the Gaza Strip can never become a haven for the group or similar militants opposed to Israel.
Netanyahu said Gaza’s post-Hamas civil authority must be one that “doesn’t educate its children for terror, doesn’t pay terrorists, and doesn’t launch terrorist attacks against Israel.” Netanyahu said these terms would disqualify the Palestinian Authority—which has partial governing authority in the West Bank—from stepping in as Gaza’s eventual civil authority.
In a Sept. 6 statement, Hamas representatives said, “The movement affirms its openness to any ideas or proposals that achieve a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal of the occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, unconditional entry of aid, and a real prisoner exchange through serious negotiations via mediators.”
