President-elect Donald Trump has warned that if the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza are not released by his inauguration on January 20, “all hell will break out” in the Middle East. This comes as negotiations to reach a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continue, with former New York developer Steve Witkoff serving as special envoy to the region.
Witkoff expressed optimism about the talks, saying that progress is being made and that the president’s reputation is driving the negotiation. However, a senior Biden administration official remained cautious, stating that the negotiations are “difficult” and challenging.
The Biden administration has struggled to broker a ceasefire in Gaza for over a year, despite previous efforts to release dozens of hostages. Trump’s comments come as his team prepares to take office in less than two weeks, with White House Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk working on the Gaza ceasefire deal.
Trump’s statements highlight the complexity of the situation and the need for swift action to secure the release of the hostages. The fate of the hostages remains uncertain, and it is unclear whether a deal can be reached before Trump takes office on January 20.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/07/politics/trump-warning-gaza-hostages-negotiations-inauguration/index.html