Hamas says US President Donald Trump’s threats against the terror group are encouraging Israel to avoid negotiating the second phase of a ceasefire between the two groups.
Trump’s comments would “complicate matters regarding the ceasefire agreement,” Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem tells CNN, urging the president to pressure Jerusalem into agreeing to a second phase “as stipulated in the agreement.”
Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif al-Qanua tells Reuters that the US president’s threats equal support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempts to avoid entering another ceasefire agreement.
“The best track to release the remaining Israeli prisoners is by the occupation going into the second phase and compelling it to adhere to the agreement signed under the sponsorship of mediators,” he says.
After meeting with a group of released Israeli hostages yesterday, Trump threatened Hamas on social media.
“‘Shalom Hamas’ means Hello and Goodbye – You can choose,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Release all of the hostages now — not later — and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you.”
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