Tensions in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict escalated further as Hamas issued a chilling new threat regarding the fate of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
This development came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a stern ultimatum to the terrorist group, warning its leaders, “you are DEAD,” in a bid to secure the captives’ release.
The exchange, reported across multiple news outlets, underscores the volatile nature of the situation and the shifting U.S. approach to the crisis.
According to the Daily Mail Online (March 7, 2025), President Trump issued his warning on Wednesday, March 5, during a White House meeting with freed hostages.
In a social media post, he declared, “Release all of the Hostages now … or it is OVER for you,” adding, “I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say.”
The Express (March 5, 2025) reported that Trump’s rhetoric marked a “chilling final warning,” urging Hamas leadership to “leave Gaza while you still have a chance.”
This came after he met with former captives, whose accounts of captivity reportedly fueled his resolve.
The Indian Express (March 5, 2025) noted that this rhetoric coincided with a significant policy shift: the Trump administration has engaged in direct talks with Hamas, a group the U.S. has designated as a terrorist organization since 1997.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed “ongoing talks and discussions” aimed at freeing American hostages, a move that breaks from decades of U.S. tradition.
In response, Hamas escalated the stakes.
The Daily Mail Online reported that on Thursday, March 6, Abu Ubaida, spokesman for Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades, issued a recorded message warning that “any escalation” of military action against Gaza would result in the deaths of the remaining Israeli hostages.
The group accused Israel of “bullying, stalling, and reckless aggression,” asserting that threats of renewed war “will not lead to the release of the captives.”
Al Jazeera highlighted Hamas’ insistence that hostages would only be released as part of a broader ceasefire agreement, a condition unmet as Israel refused to proceed with the second phase of a ceasefire plan, per The Intercept.
The Hindu reported that of the 251 captives taken during Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack, 58 remain in Gaza, including 34 confirmed dead by the Israeli military. The fate of these individuals now hangs in the balance as both sides double down on their positions.
Trump’s threats have drawn mixed reactions. The Intercept quoted an expert who called the rhetoric “genocidal,” arguing it endangered not just Hamas but the entire population of Gaza.
Meanwhile, Sky News emphasized the unprecedented nature of U.S. direct talks with Hamas, spearheaded by Adam Boehler, Trump’s pick for special envoy for hostage affairs.
These negotiations, focusing on American captives and a potential ceasefire, represent a “high-stakes gamble,” as described by the Indian Express.
Hamas’ counter-threat has intensified the pressure.
Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas spokesperson, rebuked Trump’s approach, telling the Daily Mail Online that such language complicates negotiations.
This sentiment was echoed in earlier reports from February, when Hamas criticized Trump’s warnings as unhelpful following the release of hostage Eli Sharabi.
The standoff comes amid Israel’s renewed hardline stance, including a halt on goods and supplies entering Gaza, a move opposed by the previous Biden administration, according to The Hindu.
Trump’s promise of unlimited support for Israel—underscored by a $4 billion security assistance package announced days earlier, per the Daily Mail Online—signals a potential escalation if Hamas does not comply.
As reported by multiple outlets, including The Hindu and Al Jazeera, the situation remains at an impasse.
Hamas demands a ceasefire and Israeli troop withdrawal, while Trump and Israel push for unconditional hostage release.
With both sides issuing dire warnings, the risk of further violence looms large, leaving the captives’ fate—and that of Gaza—uncertain.
