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<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Trump threatens Gazans with 'death' if captives not released</h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">Al Mayadeen English</div>
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<div class="gmail-reader-estimated-time" dir="ltr">March 6, 2025</div>
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<div class="gmail-moz-reader-content gmail-reader-show-element"><div id="gmail-readability-page-1" class="gmail-page"><p>The US president advised Hamas officials in Gaza to evacuate the area "while they still have a chance."</p><div><ul id="gmail-content-slick-0"><div aria-hidden="false"><li>
<a href="https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2025/3/5/fc53fa36-77cb-4c44-b6c0-46ef8d912ecd.png?width=1000" tabindex="0"><img src="https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2025/3/5/fc53fa36-77cb-4c44-b6c0-46ef8d912ecd.png?width=1000&preset=w700" alt="Trump threatens Gazans will" class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img"></a>
Israeli captives are escorted by Hamas fighters on a stage
before being handed over to the Red Cross in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza
Strip, on February 8, 2025. (<em>AP</em>)
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<p>US President Donald Trump told the Palestinian Resistance Movement
Hamas that he will authorize fresh Israeli strikes on Gaza unless the
group frees the remaining Israeli captives.</p>
<p>Trump's ultimatum came during direct discussions in Doha between his
envoy for captive matters, Adam Boehler, and Hamas leaders in an attempt
to achieve a fresh Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement. </p>
<p>Trump gave the ultimatum after meeting with six captives freed as part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.</p>
<p><a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/us-envoy-open-to-talks-but-focused-solely-on-prisoner-exchan">A senior Hamas official told<span> </span><strong>Al Mayadeen</strong></a><span> </span>that the recent meeting left the American side with a "positive impression" regarding the possibility of<span> </span><a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/israeli--qatari-delegations-arrive-in-cairo-for-gaza-ceasefi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">negotiations</a><span> </span>with the group. </p>
<p>However, the official noted that the US envoy focused solely on a
potential prisoner exchange and did not address broader issues, such as a<span> </span><a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/biden-announces-ceasefire-deal-between-israelis--hamas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ceasefire</a><span> </span>or an end to the war on Gaza. </p>
<p>"The American side did not present a specific framework for a
prisoner swap but listened to Hamas's perspective on the matter," the
official said. </p>
<p>The Palestinian Resistance official also revealed that the meeting
took place at the request of the US and caught Israeli officials by
surprise. </p>
<p>"'Shalom Hamas' means Hello and Goodbye - You can choose. 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," Trump wrote
on his social media platform. </p>
<p>He urged Hamas to hand over the corpses of the dead captives it is holding, accusing the group of being "sick and twisted."</p>
<p>Trump advised Hamas officials in Gaza to evacuate the area "while
they still have a chance" and warned that "not a single Hamas member
will be safe" if the captives are not released. "This is your last
warning!" he warned. </p>
<p>Addressing the people of Gaza, he claimed, "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!"</p>
<h2>Hamas urges pressure on 'Israel'</h2>
<p>Hamas reaffirmed on Friday its full commitment to implementing all
provisions of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, in all its
stages and details, as the first phase of the deal comes to an end. </p>
<p>In a statement, the Palestinian group called on the international
community to pressure "Israel" to fully adhere to its commitments under
the agreement and to immediately proceed with implementing its<span> </span><a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/hamas-lists-israeli-violations-of-ceasefire--urges-second-ph" target="_blank" rel="noopener">second phase</a><span> </span>without any delays or evasions.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, two Egyptian security sources told<span> </span><em>Reuters</em><span> </span>that the Israeli delegation in Cairo is attempting to reach an agreement to extend the first phase of the deal for 42 days.</p>
<p>Hamas opposes any extension and insists on moving forward with the
second phase of the agreement as initially outlined, the sources
indicated. This phase is intended to include steps toward a permanent
cessation of the war.</p>
<h2>'Israel' seeks to prolong first phase</h2>
<p>The first phase of the ceasefire concluded on Saturday, and "Israel"
and Hamas did not clarify what will occur if no new agreement is
reached. Egypt and Qatar are mediating the negotiations with support
from the United States.</p>
<p>Two Israeli government officials told<span> </span><em>Reuters</em><span> </span>that
"Israel" is seeking to prolong the initial phase, proposing that Hamas
release three captives per week in exchange for Palestinian prisoners
and detainees in Israeli prisons.</p>
<p>With just hours remaining before the first phase of the truce is set to expire, mediator Egypt announced on Thursday that<span> </span><a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/israeli--qatari-delegations-arrive-in-cairo-for-gaza-ceasefi">Israeli, Qatari, and US delegations were in Cairo</a><span> </span>for "intensive" negotiations on a second phase aimed at securing a permanent end to the war. </p>
<p>Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday
"instructed the negotiation delegation to depart for Cairo," his office
said, shortly after Hamas handed over the remains of four captives in
exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees.</p></div></div></div>
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