“Shalom Hamas”

“‘Shalom Hamas’ means Hello and Goodbye – You can choose. 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. 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. 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. 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!” — President Donald J. Trump

Exclusive: U.S. holding secret talks with Hamas

Two sources with direct knowledge of the situation told Axios that presidential envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler has been communicating with the terrorist group.

Behind the scenes: The meetings between Boehler and Hamas officials took place in Doha in recent weeks.

• While the Trump administration consulted with Israel about the possibility of engaging with Hamas, Israel learned about aspects of the talks through other channels, one source said.
• The sources spoke with Axios on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the sensitive meetings.

Zoom in: The talks have focused in part on the release of U.S. hostages, which is within Boehler’s remit as hostage envoy.

Hamas is still holding 59 hostages in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) believes 35 of these individuals have been killed.

President Donald Trump’s overall approach to Hamas has been far more aggressive than former President Joe Biden’s. He has threatened on multiple occasions that there would be “hell to pay” if the terrorist group refuses to release the hostages and come to a peaceful solution.

Last month, Trump announced that the United States would be taking over Gaza after the war concludes to oversee a rebuilding effort. He proposed relocating Palestinian civilians living in the region to other countries like Egypt and Jordan. The governments of both countries have rejected the idea, but Jordan indicated it would be willing to accept 2,000 Palestinian children.

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