By Trevor Hunnicutt and Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned on Friday that Washington was in “very deep” negotiations with Palestinian militant group Hamas and urged them to launch all hostages held in Gaza.
“We’re in very deep negotiation with Hamas,” Trump instructed reporters, saying the scenario can be “robust” and “nasty” if Hamas continues to carry Israeli hostages.
“We mentioned let all of them out, proper now let all of them out. And a lot better issues will occur for them however should you do not let all of them out, it should be a troublesome scenario, it should be nasty,” Trump mentioned, including that Hamas was “asking for some issues which might be nice.”
Trump didn’t elaborate additional.
Palestinian militants took over 250 hostages into Gaza after an October 2023 assault in Israel that killed about 1,200 individuals, in accordance with Israeli tallies.
U.S. ally Israel’s ensuing assault on Gaza has killed tens of hundreds of individuals, internally displaced Gaza’s total inhabitants and prompted accusations of genocide and battle crimes at worldwide courts and from a number of rights teams. Israel denies the accusations.
Trump had promised a fast finish to the battle in Gaza throughout his presidential marketing campaign however a decision has been elusive.
About 50 Israeli hostages are nonetheless being held by Hamas in Gaza, with 20 regarded as nonetheless alive.
Hamas has mentioned it might launch some hostages for a brief ceasefire whereas Trump has repeatedly mentioned he desires the discharge of all hostages.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has mentioned the battle in Gaza would solely finish if all hostages have been launched, Hamas was disarmed, Israel established safety management over the enclave, and another civilian administration arrange. Hamas is demanding an finish to the battle and Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza.
(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Kanishka Singh in Washington, Modifying by Rosalba O’Brien)