President Donald Trump issued what he called a "last warning" to Hamas to accept a proposed deal and release the remaining hostages taken in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel or "pay the consequences," saying on his social platform that "everyone wants the hostages HOME" and that "the Israelis have accepted my Terms." The message reiterated a hard line by the White House and came as U.S. and Israeli officials have publicly pressed for a swift resolution to stalled negotiations.
Trump said on Truth Social that "it is time for Hamas to accept as well" and warned that there would be no further warnings. The statement followed months of diplomatic efforts that the administration described as aimed at securing the release of hostages and a cease-fire to end the war in Gaza.
U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, who has led talks alongside Trump, told Fox News in late August that there had been "a deal on the table for the last six or seven weeks" that would have released 10 of the roughly 20 hostages U.S. officials assess remain alive. Witkoff said on Aug. 26 that he and the president wanted the hostages returned that week and attributed the hold-up to Hamas, which he said showed "a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire."
U.S. and Israeli negotiators withdrew from talks in Qatar in July after Witkoff and other officials said they believed Hamas was not negotiating in good faith. The dispute over the negotiations has unfolded against a backdrop of rising tensions on the ground: Israeli forces have expanded operations under what the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has called Operation Gideon’s Chariots II, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has tied any cease-fire to the return of all hostages and terms that he says must end the war on Israel's terms.
U.S. and Israeli officials estimate about 50 people continue to be held by Hamas, with roughly 20 assessed to be alive. Trump, who has repeatedly demanded the swift return of the captives, said last month that the remaining hostages would be returned only when Hamas was "confronted and destroyed." He also forecast a "conclusive" end to the Gaza war within weeks in late August, though he did not specify how that outcome would be achieved.
The Biden administration previously played a central role in hostage negotiations earlier in the conflict, and the current Republican White House has emphasized direct involvement by Trump and his envoy. The president’s public ultimatum underscores a political and diplomatic focus on hostage returns as a central condition for any cease-fire talks and reflects pressure from U.S. officials to secure immediate humanitarian relief while preserving Israel's security demands.
Israeli military spokespeople have issued warnings to civilians in parts of Gaza City to evacuate ahead of anticipated strikes, pointing to the presence of Hamas infrastructure. The IDF said it planned targeted operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah and other areas as it sought to degrade militant capabilities. Those operations increase the urgency behind diplomatic efforts to free captives and reduce civilian harm, officials on both sides have said.
Trump’s comments come as domestic political considerations in Washington intersect with international diplomacy. Supporters of the president have framed a tough stance as necessary to secure hostages and deter further attacks, while critics have pressed for clearer plans to protect civilians and to secure a durable cease-fire. Netanyahu’s government has publicly insisted it will only accept a comprehensive cease-fire that ensures the return of all hostages and meets its conditions for ending the campaign in Gaza.
Diplomatic actors in the region, including mediators in Qatar and other states, continue to press both sides for progress. U.S. and Israeli officials have maintained that any agreement must guarantee the full return of hostages, while non-governmental and humanitarian organizations have highlighted the urgent needs of civilians in Gaza as military operations expand. The international community has called for intensified efforts to secure the release of captives and to avoid further civilian casualties.
There has been no immediate public response from Hamas to Trump’s ultimatum. Negotiations and military activities on the ground have continued to evolve, with officials on all sides saying that the situation remains fluid and that humanitarian and security imperatives are driving diplomatic outreach and operational planning.