Hamas has accused US President Donald Trump of helping Israel break the Gaza ceasefire agreement. The group claimed that Trump’s warnings and threats against Palestinians were encouraging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to continue the siege on Gaza and ignore the terms of the truce.
Hamas Responds to Trump’s Warnings
Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua said that the best way to release the remaining Israeli hostages was by forcing Israel to move to the second phase of the agreement. This phase, agreed upon with the help of international mediators, is supposed to ensure the release of more hostages and an end to the war.
Trump had recently issued a strong warning to Hamas, telling the group to release the remaining hostages or face severe consequences. He called Hamas “sick and twisted” for keeping the bodies of hostages and not letting them go. He also told Hamas leaders to leave Gaza, saying that the Palestinian people could have a “beautiful future” if the group left.
US-Hamas Talks on Hostages
Despite the US considering Hamas a terrorist organization since 1997, American officials have been in direct contact with the group over the hostage situation. The US special envoy for hostage affairs, Adam Boehler, recently met Hamas representatives in Doha. The main focus of these talks was to secure the release of American hostages still held in Gaza. The discussions also included ideas for a long-term truce and the release of all remaining hostages.
Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to return to the region in the coming days. His mission is to either extend the current ceasefire or push forward to the second phase of the agreement.
The ceasefire agreement was implemented on January 19, after 15 months of fighting. Under this deal, Hamas freed 33 Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals. In return, around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees were released. The agreement was supposed to lead to further negotiations to ensure a lasting peace.
As tensions rise again, the future of the ceasefire remains uncertain. Whether the US can mediate a successful resolution or if fighting will resume depends on the next steps taken by both Hamas and Israel.
Comments