Breaking Point: U.S. Warns Hamas as Hostage Deadline Nears, Trump Threatens Fierce Retaliation
Washington, D.C. – The United States has issued a stark warning to Hamas as the deadline for the militant group to release American hostages approaches this weekend. Adam Boehler, the U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, made it clear that the terror organization must not underestimate former President Donald Trump’s resolve.
“We have seven Americans right now held by Hamas. It’s a terror organization, and that’s unacceptable,” Boehler stated on Wednesday in an interview with Fox News’ The Story. His remarks come in the wake of Hamas’ recent announcement that it would delay the next planned release of hostages, alleging that Israel had violated the terms of their ceasefire agreement.
A High-Stakes Ultimatum
With tensions at a boiling point, Trump has issued a chilling ultimatum: release all the hostages by noon on Saturday, or brace for devastating consequences.
“I’d say they ought to be returned by 12 o’clock on Saturday, and if they’re not returned — all of them, not in drips and drabs, not two and one and three and four and two. Saturday at 12 o’clock, and after that, I would say, all hell is going to break out,” Trump warned reporters.
This marks a critical juncture in the ongoing crisis, with mounting pressure on Hamas to comply or face potentially severe repercussions. Numbers compiled by Fox News indicate that at least 76 hostages remain in Gaza, including six Americans. Tragically, reports confirm that only two—Edan Alexander and Sagui Dekel-Chen—are still believed to be alive, while Hamas continues to hold the remains of four others declared dead between 2023 and 2024.
Ceasefire on the Brink
Hamas’ refusal to follow through on the agreed-upon hostage release has also reignited tensions between Israel and the militant group. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to X, formerly Twitter, to reinforce his position, declaring that the ceasefire will be terminated if Hamas fails to release the captives as scheduled.
This latest standoff highlights the deepening hostilities that have plagued the region since October 2023, with Israeli hostages being used as bargaining chips in a volatile and ever-escalating conflict. The world watched as Hamas fighters recently handed over Israeli hostages Or Levy, Eli Sharabi, and Ohad Ben Ami to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, under the existing ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement. Yet, the militant group’s unpredictability continues to cast a shadow over future negotiations.
‘A Big Mistake’
Boehler minced no words in his assessment of Hamas’ position. “I fully believe the president in following through on the ‘what else’ because he’s done that multiple times before,” he said, referencing past U.S. actions against adversaries. He also warned that Iran had previously “found out the hard way” about Trump’s decisiveness and suggested that Hamas would be making a “big mistake” by ignoring this warning.
“Hamas is in a position as a terror organization where they’re deciding what happens not only to [the] hostages, but to the entire group of the people that live in Gaza, the people that live in the West Bank. They’re the reasons that their lives are being destroyed,” Boehler emphasized.
The U.S. envoy insisted that Hamas must step up and “be constructive” in handling the hostage situation. Otherwise, he warned, the consequences would be severe.
What’s Next?
As the Saturday deadline looms, the world is holding its breath. Will Hamas comply and release the remaining hostages, or will this crisis spiral into an all-out confrontation? With both the U.S. and Israel signaling their willingness to respond with force, the coming hours could determine the fate of not only the captives but also the broader stability of the region.
This is a developing story.
