Washington, 11 February 2025: US President Donald Trump warned Monday that Hamas must release all hostages in Gaza by midday, or he would push for cancelling the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and allow conflict to resume.
“If all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock, I think it’s an appropriate time. Cancel it, and all bets are off—let hell break out,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, expressing frustration over Hamas’ decision to halt further releases. He stressed that all captives should be freed at once rather than in phases. “We want ’em all back,” he added.
Trump acknowledged Israel could ultimately decide against his proposal and said he might consult Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He also suggested withholding aid to Jordan and Egypt if they refused to accept Palestinian refugees displaced from Gaza. His remarks came ahead of a scheduled meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah on Tuesday.
Trump’s statements also stirred confusion regarding his vision for post-war Gaza. After meeting Netanyahu in Washington on February 4, he proposed that the US take control of the enclave and redevelop it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
He suggested Palestinians would not have the right to return, contradicting earlier remarks from US officials who described displacement as temporary.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump said a deal could be struck with Jordan and Egypt to relocate Palestinians permanently, citing the significant US financial aid provided to both countries.
“No, they wouldn’t [return] because they’re going to have much better housing,” he said. “I’m talking about building a permanent place for them.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, preparing for his first Middle East trip in office, later stated that Palestinians would have to “live somewhere else in the interim” while Gaza is rebuilt.
However, he avoided explicitly ruling out permanent relocation, creating further uncertainty. The State Department has yet to comment on the apparent contradictions.
Trump’s proposal has drawn sharp criticism, with Arab states and rights groups rejecting it as forced displacement. Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri condemned the remarks, calling them “irresponsible” and warning, “Such plans are capable of igniting the region.”
Netanyahu, who welcomed Trump’s redevelopment plan, offered a conflicting stance on Palestinian return. “They can leave, they can then come back, they can relocate and come back. But you have to rebuild Gaza,” he said.
Meanwhile, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty told Rubio in Washington that Arab nations stand with Palestinians in rejecting Trump’s plan. Cairo has voiced concerns that Palestinians could be pushed into Egypt’s Sinai region.
Trump, in his Fox News interview, described his proposal as a long-term real estate development. “I would own this. Think of it as a real estate development for the future. It would be a beautiful piece of land. No big money spent,” he said, suggesting that two to six new communities could be built away from conflict zones.
His comments come as the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas faces collapse, with Hamas accusing Israel of violating the agreement and halting hostage releases.
