US President Donald Trump issued a strong warning to Hamas, demanding the release of Israeli hostages and the return of bodies held by the group.
Using his social media platform, he threatened “severe consequences” if Hamas did not comply, calling them “sick and twisted” for keeping the bodies of the dead.
However, Trump did not acknowledge that Israel has long been accused of withholding the bodies of Palestinians killed by its forces. According to the National Campaign to Retrieve Martyrs’ Bodies, Israel holds at least 665 Palestinian corpses, including individuals who died decades ago. Many of these are buried in what are known as “Cemeteries of Numbers,” where graves are marked with numbered plaques instead of names, with identities kept in classified security files.
Among the bodies are 259 Palestinians killed before Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023, along with 67 who died in Israeli prisons. The list includes 59 children and nine women. Israeli media reports suggest that over 1,500 Palestinian bodies are currently being held at Sde Teiman prison in the Negev. The status and whereabouts of those detained in Gaza since the war started remain unknown.
Despite this, Trump pledged full support for Israel, stating that he would send the country everything it needed to “finish the job.” He warned Hamas to release all hostages immediately or face severe consequences.
Trump has previously proposed a controversial plan to “take over” Gaza, arguing it could be transformed into a tourist destination. This idea has been widely condemned by Arab nations and the international community, who see it as an attempt at ethnic cleansing.
The ongoing war in Gaza has caused massive destruction and loss of life. Since October 2023, at least 50,000 Palestinians—mostly women and children—have been killed, with another 112,000 wounded. The conflict was temporarily halted under a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal that began on January 19. As part of the agreement, 25 Israeli hostages and eight bodies have been returned in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has resisted moving forward with the next phase of the ceasefire, which would require ending the war and withdrawing Israeli forces from Gaza. Instead, he has pushed to extend the current phase and recently ordered a halt to humanitarian aid entering Gaza.
Hamas has rejected these conditions, demanding that Israel stick to the ceasefire terms, withdraw its troops, and halt its military campaign before any further negotiations can take place. As both sides remain at a deadlock, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen.