After US President Donald Trump demanded the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip, HAMAS responded to his remarks. This was reported by Al Arabiya.
HAMAS representative Abdul-Latif al-Qanua criticized the US leader's statement, stating that such threats indicate support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and an escalation of the Gaza blockade.
HAMAS: "The peace agreement must be adhered to"
Abdul-Latif al-Qanua emphasized that the most effective way to release the hostages is to move to the second phase of the peace agreement. According to him, it is necessary to adhere to the agreement signed under the auspices of mediators.
The peace agreement that came into effect in January was discussed with the participation of a US representative and also representatives of the Biden administration who are resigning. The first phase of the agreement ended on March 2, but Israel subsequently prohibited humanitarian aid from entering Gaza and demanded that HAMAS release the remaining hostages without entering into war negotiations.
This restriction could exacerbate the risk of starvation among the 2.3 million population living in Gaza, analysts say.
Trump's harsh threat
Trump issued his latest warning directed at HAMAS:
"The choice is yours. Release all hostages immediately, without delay, and return the bodies of the deceased right away, otherwise you will face severe consequences. If you do not do as I say, not a single member of HAMAS will survive. I am sending everything necessary to Israel to finish this job."
Trump addressed the people of Gaza, urging them to release the hostages, otherwise they would face dire consequences:
"To the people of Gaza: a wonderful future awaits you, but if you hold onto the hostages, it will not be yours."
Trump continues military aid to Israel
According to reports, Donald Trump sent $12 billion in military aid to Israel within 42 days. Despite halting funding for external aid programs, the US President continues to support Israel militarily.
On March 3, Trump made a decision to halt military aid to Ukraine. This has sparked intense debates on the international stage.
The sharp tensions between HAMAS and the US, as well as disagreements over peace negotiations, could further worsen the situation in the Gaza region. So far, the parties have been unable to reach a compromise, and this conflict is gaining significant attention on the international stage.
