Trump demands that Hamas 'IMMEDIATELY give back all 20 hostages'

U.S. President Donald Trump demanded on Wednesday that Hamas release “all 20 hostages.”

“Tell Hamas to IMMEDIATELY give back all 20 Hostages (Not 2 or 5 or 7!), and things will change rapidly. IT WILL END!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

20 of the remaining 48 hostages being held in Gaza are believed to still be alive.

The Times of Israel reported that there are “at least 26 confirmed dead by the IDF,” but that “there are grave concerns for the well-being of two others.”

Bring Them Home Now, speaking on behalf of hostage families, responded to Trump’s post in a statement on 𝕏.

“President Trump, you have shown your commitment to us through the darkest times, but we respectfully wish to make it clear: this nightmare cannot end for our nation until ALL 48 hostages are accounted for - both those who survived and those who were brutally murdered during these 700 days of hell,” the statement said.

“The living and deceased have all run out of time,” it concluded. “This is your moment to fulfill your most sacred promise.”

Hamas released a statement on Wednesday saying that it was ready for a full deal.

According to the Hamas statement, the deal should include “the release of all Israeli captives in exchange for an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners, under an agreement that would end the fighting, withdraw Israeli forces from Gaza, open the crossings, and begin reconstruction.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, however, responded to Hamas’ statement, saying that it was only “more spin.”

“The war could end immediately on the conditions set by the Security Cabinet: release of all hostages, Hamas’ disarmament, demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, continued Israeli security control in Gaza, and establishment of an alternative civilian administration that does not incite terror or threaten Israel,” the statement from Netanyahu’s office said.