Hamas repels Trump’s threat and says that it will not make hostages for free in exchange for a sustainable truce

CAIRO (AP) – The Hamas militant group brushed Thursday The last threat of President Donald Trump and reiterated that he will only release the Israeli hostages remaining in exchange for a sustainable duration ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas accused Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Try to get out of the ceasefire They arrived in January. The agreement provides for negotiations during a second phase in which the hostages would be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua said that “the best way to release the remaining Israeli hostages” is through negotiations on this phase, which was to start in early February. Only limited preparatory talks have been held so far.

Trump on Wednesday delivered what he said was a “Last warning” in Hamas After meeting eight old hostages. Meanwhile, the White House confirmed that it had had unprecedented direct talks with the militant group, which Israel and Western countries consider a terrorist organization.

“Release all the hostages now, not later, and immediately return all the corpses of the people you have murdered, or it’s over for you,” wrote Trump on his social platform Truth. “Only sick and twisted people keep the body, and you are sick and twisted!”

Both Israel and Hamas have a long -standing practice to maintain the remains of their opponents in order to exchange prison agreements hostage.

Hamas would still have 24 living hostages taken in October 7, 2023, which sparked the war, including Israeli-American Edan Alexander. He also holds the bodies of 34 other people who were killed during the initial or captive attack, as well as the remains of a soldier killed in the 2014 war.

Hamas released 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight others in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in the first 42-day phase of the ceasefire, which ended on Saturday.

Israel maintains what he says is a new American plan for the second phase in which Hamas would release half of the hostages remaining immediately and the rest when a permanent cease-fire is negotiated. Hamas rejected the proposal and says that it sticks to the agreement signed in January.

Israel has Cut the delivery of food, fuel, medication and other supplies About 2 million Palestinians from Gaza to try to put Hamas to accept the new arrangement. He threatened with “additional consequences” if Hamas does not resume the release of the hostages.

It is not clear if American discussions have made progress. The Trump administration has promised full support for the main objectives of War Israel to return all hostages and eradicate Hamas, which can be incompatible.

The activists led by Hamas killed some 1,200 people, mainly civilians, during the October 7 attack and took a total of 251 people hostage. Most were released in ceasefire agreements or other arrangements. Israeli forces have saved eight living hostages and recovered the bodies of dozens of others.

The military offensive of Israel killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, mainly women and children, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health, which does not say how many deaths were activists. Israel says he killed more than 17,000 fighters, without providing evidence.

The offensive has destroyed large areas in Gaza and moved most of its population. Hundreds of thousands of people live in tents, schools that have become buildings or buildings damaged by war, and the population is based on international aid.

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