Rubio calls Hamas ‘monsters’, says Trump threats must be taken seriously
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged Hamas to take Trump’s threats seriously, warning the US president has “lost his patience” with the group holding captives in Gaza.
“He’s tired of watching these videos every weekend where hostages that are emaciated are released and bodies are turned over,” Rubio told Fox News.
“These are monsters. It needs to stop,” he added.
Rubio said if Trump “says he’s going to do something, he’ll do it”. Therefore, “they’d better take that seriously”.
Palestinians say they have already endured actual hell
The US president has been using very violent language and threatening to unleash hell on Palestinians.
But people here say the past 15 months of Israel’s war have been actual hell, not only the destruction and the devastation, but the ongoing killings as well as the trauma.
People had hoped the ceasefire would end their suffering, but so far, that has not happened. People wanted to return to their homes without fear of attacks, dehydration and starvation.
The statements by Trump as well as by Israeli officials all signal one thing – permanent displacement, permanent suffering and permanent misery for the Palestinian people.
And they don’t see an end to this until all parties commit to moving to phase two of the ceasefire. That’s the only guarantee for the suffering to end.
US obligated to press Israel to adhere to Gaza truce: Hamas
Trump’s threats demanding the immediate release of all captives in Gaza are complicating efforts to keep the ceasefire alive, Hamas says.
“These threats complicate matters regarding the ceasefire agreement and encourage [Israel] to refrain from implementing its terms,” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told the Anadolu news agency.
“Hamas implemented all its obligations under phase one, but Israel is avoiding entering phase two,” Qassem added. “The US administration is required to pressure the occupation to enter negotiations for the second phase, as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement.”
Trump on Wednesday threatened further destruction of Gaza if all the remaining captives are not released immediately and told Hamas leaders to flee.
Hamas has commented on Trump’s warning to the group, saying the US president’s threats constitute support for Netanyahu to evade the terms of the signed ceasefire deal.
In comments to Reuters, the group said the best path to free the remaining captives is for Israel to enter the second phase of negotiations and be bound by the set conditions.
US envoy tells Israel to abide by Gaza ceasefire: Report
Steve Witkoff, the US envoy for the Middle East, has called on Israel to uphold the ceasefire with Hamas until he visits the region.
Witkoff’s trip to the Middle East has been postponed several times, but it is likely to take place next week, Israel’s Yediot Ahronot news outlet reported.
“Witkoff stressed that Israel must maintain the ceasefire in Gaza until he arrives in the region – even if Hamas refuses to release the hostages,” the news report said.
While Israel has said it wants to extend the first phase of the deal until mid-April, Hamas has insisted on a transition to the second phase, which should lead to a permanent end to the war.
Israel has ramped up pressure not just with threats of a return to war, but also by halting the flow of goods and supplies into war-devastated Gaza.
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