close
President-elect Trump once again reiterated that "all Hell will break out" if the hostages are not returned by the time he enters office, as Steve Witkoff, his envoy to the Mideast, heads for another round of cease-fire negotiations in the region.
Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account – free of charge. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. Please enter a valid email address. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. Having trouble? Click here.
President-elect Trump reiterated that “all hell will break out” if the hostages still held in Gaza have not been freed by the time he enters office in two weeks on Jan. 20.
Trump was asked about the threats he first levied in early December at the Hamas terrorist organization that has continued to hold some 96 hostages, only 50 of whom are still assessed to be alive, including three Americans.
“All hell will break out,” Trump said, speaking alongside Steve Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East and who has begun participating in cease-fire negotiations alongside the Biden administration and leaders from Egypt, Qatar, Israel and Hamas.
(Seven American hostages are being held in Gaza. From left, Edan Alexander, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Keith Siegel, Omer Neutra, Judi Weinstein Haggai, Gadi Haggai and Itay Chen, of whom three are still believed to be alive.)
PARDONS, ISRAEL, DOMESTIC TERRORISM AND MORE: BIDEN’S PLANS FOR FINAL DAYS OF PRESIDENCY
“If those hostages aren’t back – I don’t want to hurt your negotiation – if they’re not back by the time I get into office, all hell will break out in the Middle East,” he added in reference to Witkoff.
Trump again refused to detail what this would mean for Hamas and the Trump transition team has not detailed for Fox News Digital what sort of action the president-elect might take.
In response to a reporter who pressed him on his meaning, Trump said, “Do I have to define it for you?”
“I don’t have to say any more, but that’s what it is,” he added.
President-elect Trump makes remarks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, Jan. 7, 2025. (Reuters/Carlos Barria)
ISRAELI PM OFFICE DENIES REPORTS THAT HAMAS FORWARDED LIST OF HOSTAGES TO RELEASE IN EVENT OF DEAL
Witkoff said he would be heading to the Middle East either Tuesday night or Wednesday to continue cease-fire negotiations.
In the weeks leading up to the Christmas and Hanukkah holidays, there was a renewed sense of optimism that a cease-fire could finally be on the horizon after a series of talks over the prior 14 months had not only failed to bring the hostages home, but saw a mounting number of hostages killed in captivity. Once again, though, no deal was pushed through before the New Year.
After nearly 460 days since the hostages were first taken in Gaza in the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, Witkoff appeared to be holding onto hope that a deal could be secured in the near future.
Steve Witkoff, speaks during a campaign event for former President Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York, on Oct. 27, 2024. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“I think that we’ve had some really great progress. And I’m really hopeful that by the inaugural, we’ll have some good things to announce on behalf of the president,” Witkoff told reporters. “I actually believe that we’re working in tandem in a really good way. But it’s the president – his reputation, the things that he has said that are driving this negotiation and so, hopefully, it’ll all work out and we’ll save some lives.”
In addition to the roughly 50 people believed to be alive and in Hamas captivity, the terrorist group is believed to be holding at least 38 who were taken hostage and then killed while in captivity, as well as at least seven who are believed to have been killed on Oct. 7, 2023, and then taken into Gaza.
Caitlin McFall is a Reporter at Fox News Digital covering Politics, U.S. and World news.
close Video Conflict between Israel and Houthis continues as missile attacks hit Yemen Fox News…
close Video Australian hiker found alive 2 weeks after getting lost in remote mountain range…
close Video Ex-pizzaman who rescued 4 kids from house fire reacts to Donald Trump Jr,…
close Video Were negligent security measures to blame for the devastating massacre in New Orleans?…
The Trump transition team is accusing Democrats in the Senate of "stonewalling" Tulsi Gabbard's confirmation…
President Biden said he was still considering pre-emptive pardons for President-elect Donald Trump's political foes,…