As hostage talks stall, Trump again warns Hamas to free captives ‘soon’

Renewed spurt of negotiations hits impasse, with Israel demanding release of only living hostages in first stage of a deal, while Hamas insists on permanent ceasefire

Melania Trump, right, looks on as US President-elect Donald Trump speaks to reporters before a New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago, December 31, 2024, in Palm Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Melania Trump, right, looks on as US President-elect Donald Trump speaks to reporters before a New Year's Eve party at Mar-a-Lago, December 31, 2024, in Palm Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

US President-elect Donald Trump reiterated on Tuesday night his warning to Hamas to release the hostages it is holding in Gaza.

At a New Year’s Eve gala at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump was asked by a CNN reporter whether he had spoken recently to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about a potential ceasefire and hostage deal, talks on which appear to have hit a snag.

“We’re gonna see what happens,” Trump replied, before adding: “I’ll put it this way: They better let the hostages come back soon.”

Trump first made a similar threat at the Republican National Convention in July and repeated it again last month, saying then that “there will be all hell to pay in the Middle East and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against humanity” if the hostages were not released by the time he takes office.

Trump’s reiterated threat comes as Israeli and US officials have said Israel and Hamas are unlikely to reach a hostage deal before Trump’s return to office, as a renewed round of negotiations has appeared to once again fizzle out.

Israeli officials have charged that Hamas backed away from a softening of its stance that could have enabled a deal, and instead returned to a position that is holding up progress. The terror group has accused Israel of making new demands in the negotiations and causing delay.

Demonstrators dressed as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, right, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, take part in a performance during a protest against the government and call for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas terrorist group, in Tel Aviv, December 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Arab mediators told The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday that negotiations had reached an impasse as both sides have doubled down on demands the other would not accept.

According to the report, Israel has insisted that only living hostages be released in the first stage of a potential deal, while Hamas has insisted that the first 30-odd hostages returned include dead bodies. It has also gone back to its demand that the deal lead to a permanent end in fighting, to which Israel refuses to commit.

An Israeli official confirmed to The Times of Israel on Tuesday that attempts to reach a hostage deal with Hamas remain stuck, reiterating that a major obstacle is still Hamas’s refusal to provide Israel with a list of living hostages.

While mediators have said a deal is unlikely to be reached before the end of US President Joe Biden’s term this month, they told the Journal that they expected the sides to return to negotiations once Trump takes office.

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