DONALD Trump has delivered Hamas a chilling “last warning” to return all the hostages immediately or face death and destruction.
The Republicans have made a strong commitment to completely destroy the terrorist organization following the US engagement in confidential discussions with Hamas for the very first time.
It is thought that Washington had been refraining from communicating with the Palestinian militants since the fatal attacks on October 7 that caused widespread condemnation internationally.
But “two direct meetings” between a US representative and Hamas have taken place recently, a Palestinian source told the BBC.
“Several communications” have followed ever since, they added.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed talks had taken place with the focus being on the Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.
Hamas are said to still have around 59 of the 251 hostages they first kidnapped with brute force during the horrors of October 7.
Only 24 are believed to be alive still with another 35 bodies also expected to be returned for official burials by Israel.
Some of the unreturned hostages are believed to be American.
Trump believes the talks are “the right thing for the American people” because “there are American lives on the line,” Leavitt said.
He took to his Truth Social account tonight to once again send a clear and powerful ultimatum to Hamas.
In a message, it was stated: “You have a decision to make. Release all hostages promptly, along with the bodies of the individuals you have killed. If not, your time is up.”
“Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!”
The President then warned that he is prepared to send Israel “everything it needs to finish the job” and eliminate the terror group forever.
The post ended: “This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance.
“Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!”
Leavitt also confirmed Israel are aware of any US-Hamas communications and were consulted prior to the talks.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s office made a vague statement which read: “During talks with the US, Israel expressed its opinion about the issue of direct talks with Hamas.”
Leavitt went on to heap praise on special envoy for hostages, Adam Boehler’s work in helping to get answers out of Hamas.
Leavitt told reporters Boehler is working in a “good faith effort to do what’s right for the American people”.
Boehler is believed to have the most authority in any negotiations taking place.
According to reports, he met with Hamas representatives in the Qatari capital of Doha in recent weeks.
Discussions of a broader deal to help a long-term ceasefire be agreed upon has also been reported, according to sources.
There has yet to be a deal reached between Washington and Hamas on anything, it is believed.
The talks have left some shocked due to a longstanding US policy which prevents direct contact with entities listed as terrorist organisations.
Hamas were officially designated a terror group by Washington in 1997.
TRUMP’S GAZA VISION
It comes as Trump has previously schemed after plans to revamp Gaza into “the Riviera of the Middle East”.
He has shared AI pictures of his controversial plans for the enclave as well as a bizarre video of what a Trump-led resort could one day look like.
The jaw-dropping video shows his vision of bomb-blasted Gaza, where 48,000 are reported to have been killed, rebuilt as a glitzy holiday resort.
The new 30-second clip starts with Hamas fighters and children standing in a rubble-covered road before it poses the question: “Gaza 2025. What’s next?”
Trump’s clip then cuts to children running along a sunny beach and Tesla cars driving through a clean palm tree-lined boulevard.
Trump has previously called the strip a “demolition site”, and said Gaza could be turned into a “Middle East Riviera” under US control.
America would be “responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site” and would “get rid of the destroyed buildings”.
His plan includes relocating two million Palestinians in Gaza to neighbouring Arab countries and rebuilding the area.
“We’ll own it,” he said, adding that two million Palestinians would be relocated to countries including Egypt and Jordan.
But he later reiterated that America would not be investing any money – nor boots on the ground.
Much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble from Israeli bombardment after Netanyahu vowed to wipe out Hamas in revenge for the terror proxy’s October 7 atrocity.
Where would Palestinians relocate to?
DONALD Trump said two million Palestinians would have to leave Gaza before it could be redeveloped.
He said those displaced would go to “various domains” – including Egypt and Jordan.
Both countries and other Arab nations have rejected this notion.
Suggestions have also been made that Palestinians could be resettled in Ireland.
Israel’s defence minister last week tabled the idea of taking tens of thousands of Palestinians out of Gaza by air and sea.
Israel Katz said Ireland, Spain and Norway – which last year recognised a Palestinian state – would be “legally obligated” to take displaced Gaza residents.
He said: “Countries like Spain, Ireland, Norway, and others, which have levelled accusations and false claims against Israel over its actions in Gaza, are legally obligated to allow any Gaza resident to enter their territories.”
Dr Kobby Barda told The Sun: “There are 150,00 ghost houses in Ireland.
“If you have a ghost house where no one is living, you need to pay tax to the government.
“There will be no problem for Israel to get them to Ben Gurion airport, and put them on a plane and fly them over to Dublin.”
Ireland’s foreign minister Simon Harris hit back at Katz’s remarks, branding them “unhelpful and provocative”.
