US President Donald Trump on Sunday, September 7, 2025, issued what he called his “last warning” to Hamas, demanding the release of all remaining hostages in Gaza.
“The Israelis have accepted my Terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding: “I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning, there will not be another one!”
His remarks came amid reports of “very deep negotiations” between US officials and Hamas. Trump emphasized that 20 hostages are presumed alive, though Israeli figures list 48 captives, 26 already declared dead, according to The Times of Israel.
The warning coincided with renewed Israeli offensives in Gaza City, raising fears of further escalation despite a fragile ceasefire.
The Gaza Hostage Crisis
The crisis began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and abducting more than 250.
As of September 2025, about 50 hostages remain, though their condition is contested. Families expressed distress at Trump’s suggestion that some may have “recently died,” a statement also reported by The Times of Israel.
Negotiations are tied to a three-phase ceasefire deal brokered by the US, Qatar, and Egypt on January 19, 2025. Under the plan, 33 hostages would be released in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
So far, half of the Phase 1 hostages have been freed, including Israeli-American Sagui Dekel-Chen on February 15, in return for 369 Palestinian prisoners.
Negotiations and Stalled Progress
Trump’s envoy, real estate executive Steve Witkoff, recently held talks with Qatari officials in Paris. Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq suggested openness to a deal covering all captives in exchange for an end to the war but accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of obstruction.
Netanyahu previously rejected a Hamas proposal on August 18, citing Trump’s opposition to partial agreements.
US Policy Shift Draws Criticism
Trump’s direct engagement with Hamas marks a major shift in US policy, as the group has been designated a terrorist organization since 1997.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the move, saying: “American lives are at stake” and stressing that Israel had been consulted.
Experts remain divided. Guy Ziv of American University told ABC News that Trump’s warnings—such as earlier threats of “all hell breaking loose”—have not significantly changed Hamas’s approach.
Meanwhile, Jared Kushner is reportedly involved in back-channel talks, though the White House has not confirmed details.
Families Voice Concern
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Israel criticized Trump’s framing, arguing that his focus on 20 presumed-alive hostages ignores the broader figure of 48 still missing.
On Sunday, families staged protests outside the US Embassy in Tel Aviv, demanding Trump secure a deal.
