[IsraelTimes] US President Donald Trump issues a new ultimatum to Hamas to immediately release all remaining hostages or be destroyed.
“‘Shalom Hamas’ means Hello and Goodbye – You can choose,” Trump writes on Truth Social.
“Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you,” he says.
“Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!”
“I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say,” he warns.
“I have just met with your former hostages whose lives you have destroyed.”
“This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance,” Trump says.
“Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER.”
US has been talking directly with Hamas for weeks
[IsrealeTimes] The Trump administration is holding direct talks with Hamas aimed at securing the release of American hostages held in Gaza as well as a broader deal to end the war, Axios reports, citing two sources with direct knowledge of those negotiations.
A source familiar with the matter confirmed the report to The Times of Israel.
The secret talks being held by Trump’s hostage envoy Adam Boehler are unprecedented, as the US has never before engaged directly with Hamas, which Washington designated as a terror group in 1997.
The talks have been taking place in Doha in recent weeks, Axios says, adding that no deal has been reached.
In January, senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouq said publicly that the terror group is prepared to open a dialogue with the Trump administration.
While the US consulted with Israel about the possibility of engaging in talks with Hamas, Israel only learned about specific aspects through other channels, Axios says.
There is one remaining American hostage in Gaza who is believed to still be alive, Edan Alexander. Hamas is also holding the bodies of American-Israeli hostages Itay Chen, Gad Haggai, Judi Weinstein and Omer Neutra.
The Trump administration’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff was planning to meet with Qatar’s prime minister in Doha Thursday, but has held off on doing due to the lack of progress in the hostage talks more broadly, the source confirmed to The Times of Israel. 
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