Trump & PM Netanyahu to meet later this month; both issue threats to Hamas over using hostages as human shields

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House after his scheduled speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York later this month, the premier announced on Tuesday.

Speaking at a press conference he convened to limit the damage from his earlier remarks that Israel’s economy needed to become more self-reliant, Netanyahu also spoke at length about the Gaza War, as the Israeli military commenced the large-scale operation to take over Gaza City.

The prime minister said Trump had invited him for a fourth meeting since he returned to office, during a phone call on Monday.

Netanyahu noted that they had spoken several times since the Israeli strike in Qatar, and that all of their talks were “good.” Media reports suggested that at least one phone call had been tense after Trump was angry at Netanyahu for not updating him sooner about the planned strike.

During the call, he also said they “discussed a possibility that came up, which is very, very important in my eyes – dealing with the issue of the hostages’ security.”

New media post from Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/lGmq3m0kib

— Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) September 16, 2025

“As Hamas’s spokesperson said, they used our hostages as human shields – that is, placed them in locations that would endanger them. This is horrifying. It also horrified the president. He addressed it,” Netanyahu said.

Earlier this week, Meirav Gilboa-Dalal, mother of hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal, said she had been informed that her son was being moved above ground to deter Israeli military operations in the area where he is being held.

“Today I know that my son is a human shield. And to find out that your son is a human shield – that is rock bottom,” she told Army Radio.

BREAKING:

Trump threatens Hamas that all bets will be off if they use the Israeli hostages as human shields above ground during Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza pic.twitter.com/QvTy85fak1

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) September 15, 2025

“We can’t breathe,” she said, reiterating the call of many hostage families to stop the IDF’s new offensive, which they fear will lead to the death of those hostages who are still alive.

President Trump responded to the report on Tuesday, writing on Truth Social: “I have just read a News Report that Hamas has moved the hostages above ground to use them as human shields against Israel’s ground offensive. I hope the Leaders of Hamas know what they’re getting into if they do such a thing.”

“This is a human atrocity, the likes of which few people have ever seen before. Don’t let this happen or, ALL ‘BETS’ ARE OFF. RELEASE ALL HOSTAGES NOW!”

At Tuesday’s press conference, Netanyahu echoed Trump’s threats, warning that “If they harm a hair on the head of even one hostage, we will hunt them down with greater force until the end of their lives – and that end will come much faster than they think.”

“And this is what I say to Hamas’s leaders,” Netanyahu continued, “You will have no shelter anyway. But our effort to reach you will be redoubled sevenfold, and we will reach you much faster than you think.”