US President Donald Trump stated on Saturday his support for any decision Israel might make regarding the deadline he had set for Hamas to release all Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip by noon. Trump’s statement followed an announcement by Hamas that it was postponing the sixth round of prisoner exchanges, citing alleged Israeli violations of the humanitarian component of the ceasefire agreement.
In a post on his Truth Social platform following the completion of the prisoner exchange, Trump acknowledged the release of three Israelis by Hamas, one of whom holds American citizenship.
“Hamas has just released three Hostages from GAZA, including an American Citizen. They seem to be in good shape! This differs from their statement last week that they would not release any Hostages,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.“Israel will now have to decide what they will do about the 12:00 O’CLOCK, TODAY, DEADLINE imposed on the release of ALL HOSTAGES. The United States will back the decision they make!” Trump wrote in his post.
The US President had previously stated on Friday that he would take a firm stance on the situation in Gaza on Saturday, where a ceasefire was in effect.
Adam Beale, President Trump’s envoy for hostage affairs, indicated that Trump’s earlier threat to “open the gates of hell in Gaza if all detainees are not released by Saturday” remained valid.
Speaking to FOX NEWS on Thursday, Beale stated, “The US President has not retreated, and he alone can amend his message.”
Beale also noted that “Trump has a consistent history of taking practical actions when it makes sense,” adding, “I would say to Hamas, you can wait… you can wait if you want to, but I think that would be a fatal mistake.”
The sixth round of prisoner exchanges between Israel and Hamas concluded earlier on Saturday. This exchange was part of the initial phase of the ceasefire agreement, which took effect on January 19.
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, handed over three Israeli prisoners to the International Committee of the Red Cross: Alexander ‘Sasha’ Troufanov, who holds both Israeli and Russian citizenship; Sagi Dekel Chen, an American-Israeli citizen; and Iair Horn.
In exchange, the first bus carrying released Palestinian prisoners arrived in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. The Rafah crossing on the border with Egypt received the released prisoners who were deported outside the Palestinian territories.
Following the return of its three prisoners, Israel began releasing 369 Palestinian prisoners, including 36 serving life sentences. Of those released, 29 were from the West Bank and 7 from Jerusalem. Twenty-four were scheduled for deportation.
Under the initial phase of the ceasefire agreement., Israel is to permit the daily entry of 600 trucks carrying aid, 200,000 tents, and 60,000 caravans, and the travel of 300 Palestinians daily, half of whom are to be patients and wounded individuals. However, Hamas has accused Israel of “non-compliance with these terms.”
Three Israeli officials told The New York Times and two sources from the mediating countries confirmed that Hamas’saccusations against Israel were “accurate.”
