President Donald Trump issued a public ultimatum to Hamas on Truth Social, saying the militant group must release the remaining hostages held in Gaza "or pay the consequences," and calling it his "last warning." He said the Israelis had accepted his terms and urged Hamas to do the same, as diplomatic efforts to secure hostage releases and a ceasefire remain stalled.
Trump's post reiterated positions he and U.S. envoys have expressed in recent weeks: that the return of hostages is central to any cessation of hostilities and that Hamas must be confronted. "Everyone wants the hostages HOME. Everyone wants this War to end," he wrote. "I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning, there will not be another one!"
U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, who has led recent U.S. diplomacy on the issue, told Fox News in late August that he and the president wanted hostages returned and that a deal to release some captives had been on the table for weeks. Witkoff said negotiators believed a proposal could have freed 10 of the hostages out of roughly 20 whom U.S. officials assess remain alive, and he attributed the hold-up to Hamas, saying the group was "100%" to blame for delays.
Nearly two years after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack in which many of the hostages were taken, Israeli and U.S. officials say about 50 people remain in captivity, with assessments that roughly 20 are still alive. Negotiations have seen fits and starts: in July, U.S. and Israeli negotiators withdrew from talks in Qatar after officials said Hamas showed a lack of willingness to reach a ceasefire agreement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel will only consider a comprehensive ceasefire that secures the return of all hostages and ends the war on terms acceptable to Israel. The Israel Defense Forces said it is preparing for a new offensive in Gaza and has expanded ground operations under an effort it calls Operation Gideon’s Chariots II.
The IDF has issued warnings to residents in parts of Gaza City to evacuate ahead of expected escalations and released maps identifying specific areas and buildings it said contained Hamas infrastructure. An IDF spokesperson, Col. Avichay Adraee, named one building the military planned to strike, citing the presence of what the IDF described as "Hamas terrorist infrastructure inside or nearby."
Trump has previously said he expects a conclusive end to the conflict within weeks, though he has not detailed how such an outcome would be achieved. His administration's public posture aligns with Israeli demands for a full accounting of all hostages before any lasting ceasefire is acceptable to Israel, while U.S. envoys have at times sought staggered releases tied to pauses in fighting.
Diplomatic sources and negotiators have not publicly outlined the full contents of proposed deals, and officials caution that on-the-ground realities, including the security of hostages and the ability to verify releases, complicate arrangements. Humanitarian groups and international actors have repeatedly called for the immediate release of civilians held in the conflict and for unhindered aid access to Gaza.
As of the latest public statements, neither Hamas nor other parties to the conflict have acknowledged accepting the terms Trump described. The situation remains fluid, with military warnings and preparations for renewed Israeli operations taking place alongside intermittent diplomatic efforts to secure the release of captives and reduce civilian harm.