US President Donald Trump on Monday (local time) issued a stern warning to Hamas, saying “all bets are off” if reports are confirmed that the group has moved hostages above ground to use them as human shields against Israel’s ongoing ground offensive in Gaza City.In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump called the alleged move a “human atrocity” and demanded the immediate release of all hostages.“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!” Trump wrote.
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The warning comes as Israeli forces intensified airstrikes and reportedly pushed tanks into Gaza City, according to Palestinian media. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been urging residents to evacuate the densely populated northern city, where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians are still sheltering.The IDF has launched its ground offensive to take over Gaza City, Times of Israel reported quoting an Axios story that cited unnamed Israeli officials. In recent days, the army had expanded airstrikes in and around the city but had not previously sent ground troops into the urban center, where hundreds of thousands of civilians remain.According to the IDF, around 300,000 Palestinians have left Gaza City in recent weeks. The city’s population had grown to nearly one million displaced people earlier this year. The army has been urging residents to evacuate, but with limited success, as many fear other parts of the Strip are just as unsafe.
Trump on Qatar strikes:
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump addressed regional concerns following last week’s Israeli strike in Doha that targeted Hamas leaders. The attack drew sharp criticism from Qatar and other US allies in the Gulf.Asked whether Israel had given assurances not to target Qatar again, Trump said, “He [Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] won’t be hitting Qatar.” He described the Gulf state as “a very good ally, and a lot of people don’t know that,” while adding that Israel would continue pursuing Hamas elsewhere.The president said he was troubled by reports that Hamas planned to use hostages as human shields. “I thought that was very terrible and I put out a statement,” Trump said, referring to his Truth Social post.His remarks come just days after he hosted Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani for dinner in New York.The Doha strike, which killed six people including a Qatari security officer, but left Hamas leaders unharmed, drew condemnation from Qatar, which denounced it as “state terrorism.”Trump also rejected an Axios report claiming Netanyahu had tipped him off about the strike in advance, giving Washington time to call it off. He insisted he only learned of the operation when it was too late to intervene.
Netanyahu thanks President Trump:
Shortly after Trump’s warning, Netanyahu expressed gratitude for US support. “Thank you President Trump for your unflinching support for Israel’s battle against Hamas and the release of all our hostages,” the Israeli prime minister said, as reported by The Times of Israel. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel on Sunday morning for a two-day visit focused on the ongoing war in Gaza.Before leaving Washington, Rubio wrote on social media that his priorities included securing the release of hostages, ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches civilians and addressing the continuing threat posed by Hamas.
