‘Hostages will only be released when Hamas is destroyed’: Donald Trump

A total of 251 Israelis were taken as hostages by Hamas on October 7, 2023, following the surprise attack. Around 50 captives still remain in Gaza, including 20 who are believed to be alive.

By: Express Web Desk

New Delhi | August 18, 2025 09:01 PM IST

3 min read

Hostages will only be released when Hamas is confronted and destroyed, says Donald Trump

A total of 251 Israelis were taken as hostages by Hamas on October 7, 2023, following the surprise attack. (Photo: Reuters)

US President Donald Trump has suggested that the release of the Israeli hostages who are still being held in Gaza by Hamas will only be possible when Hamas is confronted and destroyed.

Writing on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump added that “the sooner this happens, the greater the chances of success.”

“Remember, I was the one who negotiated and got hundreds of hostages freed and released into Israel (and America!). I was the one who ended 6 wars, in just 6 months. I was the one who OBLITERATED Iran’s Nuclear facilities. Play to WIN, or don’t play at all!,” Trump said further.

50 Israeli hostages in Gaza

A total of 251 Israelis were taken as hostages by Hamas on October 7, 2023, following the surprise attack, which also left around 1,200 people dead, in the deadliest attack on Israel. A total of 148 hostages have since been returned alive to Israel; around 50 captives still remain in Gaza, including 20 who are believed to be alive.

Netanyahu under pressure

The return of the remaining hostages has been a burning issue in Israel, with their families increasing pressure on the Benjamin Netanyahu government to end the conflict and make a deal with Hamas at the earliest to bring them home.

Israel plans to take over Gaza

Netanyahu has made the safe return of the remaining hostages the centrepiece of any possible future ceasefire talks. As Israel and Hamas failed to make any progress in the ceasefire negotiations, Netanyahu has ordered the seizure of Gaza, which could happen in the coming days

Netanyahu has described Gaza City as Hamas’s last big urban bastion and an Israeli armoured incursion there could see the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom have been uprooted multiple times earlier in the war.

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More than 61,000 Palestinians have since been killed in Israel’s ensuing air and ground war in Gaza, according to local health officials, with most of the 2.2 million population internally displaced.

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