(DailyVantage.com) – President-elect Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Hamas and its backers, pledging unprecedented retaliation if the group does not release the 101 Israeli hostages, including several Americans, by his inauguration on January 20, 2025. The statement follows the confirmation of the death of American-Israeli hostage Omer Neutra and the release of a video showing another hostage in captivity.
Taking to Truth Social, Trump criticized the lack of action on the hostage crisis, writing, “If the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025… there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East.” He promised a response that would strike those responsible “harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States.”
This firm stance echoes Trump’s earlier comments during the Republican National Convention, where he declared, “We want our hostages back—and they better be back before I assume office, or you will be paying a very big price.” His comments suggest a blend of military and diplomatic measures if the situation remains unresolved.
The family of Omer Neutra, whose death was recently confirmed, has called for unified action from both the outgoing Biden administration and Trump to secure the release of all hostages. Neutra’s family has been at the forefront of advocacy efforts, urging the U.S. government to prioritize the safe return of the hostages and the repatriation of remains.
Trump’s tough rhetoric is consistent with his previous term in office, where his firm approach to hostage negotiations led to the release of several Americans detained abroad. His strategy, often combining diplomatic channels with the threat of force, has drawn praise from pro-Israel advocates such as former New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind, who called Trump’s stance “decisive and necessary.”
As the January 20 deadline approaches, Trump’s bold declaration has placed significant pressure on Hamas and its sponsors, signaling that the issue will be a priority in his upcoming administration.
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