Trump warns Hamas as US holds unprecedented talks for Gaza hostages

WASHINGTON - The US broke a longstanding diplomatic taboo by holding secret talks with Hamas on securing the release of American hostages held in Gaza, sources told Reuters on March 5, while President Donald Trump warned of “hell to pay” should the Palestinian militant group not comply.

US hostage affairs envoy Adam Boehler has the authority to talk directly with Hamas, the White House said when asked about the discussions, which broke with a decades-old policy of not negotiating with groups that the US has designated as terrorist groups.

Mr Boehler and Hamas officials met in Doha in recent weeks, two sources briefed on the negotiations said. It was not clear who represented Hamas.

At the White House, Mr Trump met a group of hostages who had been released recently under a Gaza ceasefire deal, and he issued a stark new threat against Hamas in a social media post. He demanded that Hamas “release all of the hostages now, not later”, including the remains of dead hostages, “or it is OVER for you”.

“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,” he said.

“Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!”

Mr Trump’s warning echoed his “hell to pay” threat before his Jan 20 return to the White House, which was followed by the truce and hostage deal in mid-January he claimed credit for before then President Joe Biden left office.

Once again, Mr Trump did not specify exactly what action he might take if Hamas failed to comply.

Hamas said on March 6 that Mr

Trump’s repeated threats against Palestinians

constituted support for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to back out of the Gaza ceasefire and intensify the siege of Gazans.

In a text message to Reuters, Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua said: “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.”

The Palestinian Mujahideen military group in Gaza condemned Mr Trump’s warning, saying it showed his administration’s intention “to proceed as a partner in the crimes of genocide against our people”. Israel has denied accusations of genocide.

“Trump’s threats today clearly reveal the ugly face of the United States of America and show its lack of seriousness and its renunciation of the agreement it mediated,” the group said.

The US had long avoided direct engagement with the Islamist group, which carried out a cross-border raid into southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023, triggering

the devastating Gaza war as Israel retaliated

.

One of the sources said the US effort includes an attempt to gain the release of Mr Edan Alexander, of Tenafly, New Jersey, believed to be the last living American hostage held by Hamas. He appeared in a video published by Hamas in November 2024.

Four other US hostages have been declared dead by the Israeli authorities.

To date, the US role in helping to secure a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal has been dealing with Israel and Qatari and Egyptian mediators but without any known direct communications between Washington and Hamas.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Mr Boehler “does have the authority” to hold direct talks with Hamas.

She said Israel was consulted but did not indicate whether this was before or after the talks.

She described the contacts as part of Mr Trump’s “good faith effort to do what’s right for the American people”.

Mr Netanyahu’s office issued a statement saying: “Israel has expressed to the United States its position regarding direct talks with Hamas.” It did not elaborate, but Israel, which along with many other countries considers Hamas a terrorist organisation, refuses to negotiate directly with the group.

The US State Department designated Hamas as such in 1997.

Mr Taher Al-Nono, Hamas’ political adviser, told Reuters: “I have no information about meetings with American officials, but any meeting with the American administration is beneficial for the stability of the region.”

American lives at stake

Sources said the talks have focused on gaining the release of US hostages still held in Gaza, but one said they also have included discussions about a broader deal to release all remaining hostages and how to reach a long-term truce.

Fighting in the Gaza Strip has been halted since Jan 19 and Hamas has exchanged 33 Israeli and five Thai hostages for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. 

The Israeli authorities believe fewer than half of the remaining 59 hostages are still alive.

Ms Leavitt was asked whether the talks with Hamas also included Mr Trump’s controversial proposal for the US to take over Gaza.

He suggested in February that war-ravaged Gaza be transformed into a Riviera-style resort after its inhabitants are resettled elsewhere, an idea rejected in the Arab world and condemned by human rights groups.

“These are ongoing talks and discussions. I’m not going to detail them,” she said. “There are American lives at stake.”

Mr Jonathan Panikoff, a former US deputy national intelligence officer on the Middle East, said Mr Trump’s unconventional diplomatic approach carries both risks and opportunities.

“On one hand, engaging Hamas directly could make it easier to get US hostages out and help reach a long-term agreement,” said Mr Panikoff, now at the Atlantic Council think-tank.

“On the other, there’s a reason the US doesn’t usually negotiate with terrorist groups – knowing Washington will do so incentivises them to repeat the behaviour in the future.”

Mr Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff plans to return to the region in coming days to work out a way to either extend the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal or advance to the second phase, a State Department spokesperson said on March 3. REUTERS