US President Donald Trump on Wednesday called on the Palestinian group Hamas to immediately release the hostages it is holding in Gaza, warning that “things will change quickly.”
“Tell Hamas to immediately release all 20 hostages (not two or five or seven!) and things will change quickly. It will end!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social network.
The US president did not elaborate on what action he would take if the hostages were released or what “end” he meant.
About 250 hostages were taken to Gaza after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Tel Aviv estimates that 50 Israeli hostages are still being held in Gaza, including 20 alive. Meanwhile, human rights groups say more than 10,800 Palestinians are being held in Israeli prisons under torture, starvation and medical neglect.
Israel has killed nearly 64,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, which is facing famine.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide charge before the International Court of Justice over its war on the enclave.
International efforts to broker a ceasefire since Israel violated the ceasefire in March have so far failed.
