Netanyahu welcomes Trump’s demand to free hostages before inauguration

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday welcomed President-elect Donald Trump’s demand that hostages taken in the Hamas-led attack on Israel be released from the Gaza Strip before his inauguration in January.

Trump, in a social media post Monday, did not elaborate on what action would be taken if the captives are not released by Jan. 20, when he will be sworn in. Still, some Israeli officials appeared to be reassured by Trump’s remarks, which suggested the onus was more on the militants holding the hostages than on Israel to free the captives.

“I want to thank President Trump for his strong statement yesterday,” Netanyahu said Tuesday at a meeting of government ministers. “This is a very decisive statement that clarifies that there is one party responsible for this situation and that is Hamas.”

Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Monday that “there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity,” if the hostages are not released before his inauguration.

“Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America,” he said. “RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!”

According to Israeli authorities, about 250 hostages were captured in the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and about 100 of them remain in Gaza, with at least a third believed to be dead. Alongside Israel and international mediators, including Qatar and Egypt, the Biden administration has been working toward a ceasefire deal that would include the release of the hostages, although those talks have been stalled for months.

It was not clear what action Trump might take to make good on his threat. Over the past year, Israel’s military has killed many of Hamas’ leaders and thousands of its fighters, while reducing much of Gaza to rubble. Over 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, according to local health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and fighters.

Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s hard-line finance minister who has opposed past proposals for a ceasefire in Gaza, also praised Trump’s comments. Smotrich has said Israel should not agree to end the war in Gaza until Hamas is destroyed.

“How refreshing it is to hear clear and morally sound statements that do not create a false equivalence or call for addressing ‘both sides,’ ” Smotrich said.

“This is the way to bring back the hostages: by increasing the pressure and the costs for Hamas and its supporters, and defeating them, rather than, giving in to their absurd demands,” he said.

Basem Naim, a Hamas official, said the militant group was seeking a permanent ceasefire and an exchange of Palestinian prisoners for hostages and blamed Netanyahu for a lack of progress toward a ceasefire.

“At many times, we were extremely close to signing on a deal, but due to his savage actions and decisions, these deals broke down,” he said in a statement Tuesday. He added that Hamas believes Trump’s message was directed at Netanyahu and the Israeli government.

Hamas has long insisted on a permanent end to the war and a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Netanyahu has vowed to continue fighting until Hamas is destroyed in the enclave and has suggested Israeli forces would have to remain in parts of the territory during any ceasefire.

Netanyahu has repeatedly changed his conditions for a deal with Hamas, and his critics in Israel have accused him of prioritizing his political survival over freeing the hostages.

Benny Gantz, a prominent member of Israel’s political opposition, said Trump’s statement was “powerful and important,” and that it was now “time for our brave actions.” His comments appeared to suggest that Israel needed to do more to reach an agreement with Hamas.

Gantz has said in the past that Israeli political considerations have contributed to delays in striking a deal, resulting in the deaths of hostages.