Israeli leaders yesterday welcomed the promise of newly elected US President Donald Trump that someone in the Middle East will "pay dearly" if the hostages in the Gaza Strip are not released before his inauguration on January 20.
The citizens of Gaza are less enthusiastic about that message.
On the Truth Social social network, without naming a specific group, Trump wrote that the hostages must be freed by the time he takes the oath of office. If his demand is not met, he said, "Those responsible will be hit harder than anyone in the long and glorious history of the United States of America."
During a deadly attack on Israel in 2023, Hamas-led militants captured more than 250 people. Some have been freed, but about half of them are still in Gaza, although at least a third are believed to have already passed away.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and many of his ministers publicly thanked Trump for his harsh words.
"President Trump put the emphasis in the right place, on Hamas, and not on the Israeli government, as is usual (elsewhere)," Netanyahu said at the start of the cabinet meeting.
Gaza-based political analyst Ramiz Mogani said Trump's threat would encourage Israel not only to expel Palestinians from parts of Gaza but also to annex the nearby Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that Trump's statement clearly showed everyone who is right and who is wrong.
"This is the way to get the hostages back: by increasing the pressure and costs on Hamas and its supporters, and defeating them, instead of giving in to their absurd demands."
The families of the missing hostages also expressed their gratitude. "Now it is clear to everyone: the time has come. We have to bring them home immediately," said the family forum.
Israel and Hamas have held intermittent talks since October 2023, but after the initial release of hostages in November, little progress has been made, with both sides blaming each other.
Responding to Trump's announcement, senior Hamas official Bassem Naim said Netanyahu had sabotaged all efforts to reach a deal that would have included a hostage exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
"So we understand that (Trump's) message is primarily to Netanyahu and his government to stop this evil game," he told Reuters.
Gaza political analyst Ramiz Mogani said Trump's threat was aimed at both Hamas and its backer Iran, and warned that it would encourage Israel not only to expel Palestinians from parts of Gaza but also to annex the nearby Israeli-occupied West Bank.
"These statements have serious implications for the Israeli war in Gaza and the West Bank," he said.
Mohamed Dahlan, like hundreds of thousands of Gazans, has been forced to flee his home by the conflict and is desperate for the war to end. However, he said that Trump shocked him.
"We were hoping that the new administration would bring a breakthrough ... but it seems that (Trump) is in complete agreement with the Israeli administration and we are clearly in for more punitive measures," he told Reuters.
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