Trump cites ‘very deep’ negotiations with Hamas, pushes to release hostages

By
EDGARDO HERNAL
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WASHINGTON. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that Washington is engaged in “very deep” negotiations with Palestinian militant group Hamas and pressed for the release of all hostages held in Gaza.

“We are in very deep negotiation with Hamas,” Trump told reporters, warning that the situation would be “tough” and “nasty” if hostages remained in captivity.

“We said let them all out, right now let them all out. And much better things will happen for them but if you don’t let them all out, it’s going to be a tough situation, it’s going to be nasty,” Trump said, adding that Hamas was “asking for some things that are fine,” without elaborating further.

Palestinian militants took more than 250 hostages into Gaza after an October 2023 attack in Israel that killed about 1,200 people, according to Israeli figures. Israel’s subsequent assault on Gaza has killed tens of thousands, displaced the entire population, and triggered accusations of genocide and war crimes from rights groups and international courts—allegations Israel denies.

Trump had pledged a swift end to the Gaza war during his presidential campaign, but a resolution remains out of reach.

According to Israeli estimates, about 50 hostages are still in Hamas custody, with around 20 believed to be alive. Hamas has indicated willingness to release some hostages in exchange for a temporary ceasefire, while Trump has maintained his call for the release of all.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that the war will only end if all hostages are freed, Hamas is disarmed, Israel secures control over Gaza, and an alternative civilian administration is established. Hamas, in contrast, is demanding an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal.

Author profile

Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.

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