‘Don’t know what'll happen tomorrow': Donald Trump on upcoming Gaza hostage release

The US President had earlier unveiled a plan to capture the Gaza territory and relocate nearly 1.2 million Palestinians in Gaza.

Published on: Feb 15, 2025, 03:25:00 IST

By HT News Desk

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President Donald Trump stated on Friday that he was not sure what would happen on Saturday when Hamas plans to release hostages, but promised a “hard stance” on Gaza, reported Reuters.

President Donald Trump vows to take ‘hard stance’ on Gaza amid hostage release (Bloomberg)

Trump said, “I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow at 12 o'clock. I'd take a very hard stance. I can't tell you what Israel is going to do... It depends what Bibi (Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli PM) is going to do, it depends what Israel is going to do.”

The US President added that though Hamas had stated that they would release the hostages as planned, he had his doubts.

"You have to see this started by them (Hamas) saying, we're not going to release the hostages as we said we were. I said, good, you have until 12 o'clock on Saturday, which is tomorrow at 12 o'clock, to do it. We didn't hear anything then all of a sudden, two days ago, they said, no, we've decided we're going to release the hostages. I actually think they should release all of the hostages," Trump said.

Also Read: 'All hell' will break lose, warns Donald Trump if Hamas doesn't return Gaza hostages

Donald Trump had previously issued a warning to Hamas that “all hell would break loose” if the planned hostage release did not go through. After a few setbacks, Hamas conceded to going through with the hostage release on Saturday, and will release 369 detainees.

The US President had also unveiled a plan to capture the Gaza territory and relocate nearly 1.2 million Palestinians in Gaza.

Donald Trump's Gaza plan

While the US President has not revealed the exact details of his plan to relocate Gazans, during an interview with FOX News, he said, “We’ll build safe communities, a little bit away from where they are, where all of this danger is. In the meantime, I would own this."

Also Read: Donald Trump makes 'beautiful communities' promise to Palestinians in Gaza with 'little bit away' catch

He added, "Think of it as a real estate development for the future. It would be a beautiful piece of land. No big money spent.”

During a joint press conference with Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump had also vowed to dismantle dangerous weaponry in the Gaza strip after taking control of the region.

Also Read: 'Makes no sense': Donald Trump's 'US will take Gaza' suggestion shot down by allies, adversaries

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Secretary of State Marco Rubio later clarified that Trump only wanted Palestinians relocated from Gaza for an “interim” period to allow for the reconstruction of the war-torn area.

While Trump has Israel's backing for his plan, Arab nations have sharply criticised his proposal to turn Gaza into the "Riviera of the Middle East".

A senior Hamas official, Izzat al-Rishq, criticised Trump's “absurd” plan and told news agency Associated Press that “dealing with the Palestinian cause with the mentality of a real estate dealer is a recipe for failure. Our Palestinian people will thwart all transfer and deportation plans.”

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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