After meeting released Israeli hostages, Trump repeats strong warning to Hamas: 'Release all of the hostages now... or it is OVER for you'

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed eight released Israeli hostages to the White House on Tuesday. They attended the State of the Union Address in person before meeting with him the next day in the Oval Office.

The meeting with Trump was attended by Eli Sharabi, Yair Horn, Omer Shem Tov, Keith and Aviva Siegel, Naama Levy, Doron Steinbrecher, and Noa Argamani.

On Wednesday, Trump issued another warning to Hamas after meeting with the former hostages. He demanded that the terror group immediately release all remaining hostages or face severe consequences.

“‘Shalom Hamas’ means Hello and Goodbye – You can choose,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Release all of the hostages now – not later – and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you.”

"'Shalom Hamas' means Hello and Goodbye - You can choose. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted! I am… pic.twitter.com/88EjVAyWAe

— President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) March 5, 2025

Trump reassured the group of eight freed hostages, “We’ll get them out,” referring to hostages still held in Gaza.

Over the past several months, Trump has issued multiple ultimatums to Hamas with limited success. Before his inauguration in early January, the U.S. president demanded the release of all hostages, warning that failure to comply would result in “all hell to pay.”

Although Hamas did not release all the hostages, the group agreed to a multiphase ceasefire deal with Israel, which resulted in 33 hostages being freed in the first stage.

Last month, after Hamas threatened not to release another set of hostages due to alleged Israeli violations of the agreement, Trump issued another ultimatum, demanding that all hostages be released by noon the following Saturday. While Hamas did not comply, it did free the three it had planned to release.

“I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job; not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say,” Trump warned on Wednesday.

“This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance,” he declared.

The U.S. top leader noted that he had just met with the former hostages, “whose lives you have destroyed… Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!”

Recently, Trump has faced criticism for his proposal of a Gaza 'Riviera' and his statement that “the U.S. would take over Gaza,” which sparked global backlash and left many questioning the true meaning behind his remarks.

Trump has been urging Israel’s neighboring Arab nations to accept Gazan refugees while the Gaza Strip is being rebuilt, specifically calling on Egypt and Jordan for assistance. However, both countries have so far refused to allow Gazans to seek refuge within their borders.

Some have raised the concern that thousands of civilians in Gaza played an active part in the Hamas-led massacre on Oct. 7, 2023, and have continued to participate in holding hostages in their homes, as reported by several returning hostages.

“Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful future awaits, but not if you hold hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER,” Trump strongly warned.

As phase 1 of the deal concluded last Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement confirming its acceptance of what it referred to as a proposal from U.S. Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, to extend the ceasefire under new terms, differing from those agreed upon in January.

The original deal had outlined that Israel and Hamas would negotiate the terms of phase 2, to involve the release of all remaining hostages in exchange for a permanent cessation of hostilities and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Although Israel agreed to these terms, Netanyahu has repeatedly emphasized that he would not end the war until Hamas' military and governing structures were dismantled. As a result, he largely refrained from engaging in negotiations over phase two.

The "Witkoff proposal" introduced on Saturday evening outlined an extension of the ceasefire through both Ramadan and Passover, ending on April 19. During this time, the remaining hostages would be released in two stages: one at the start of the extension and the other at its conclusion, contingent upon agreements for a permanent ceasefire.

Hamas immediately rejected the proposal and, as a result, Israel warned it would resume fighting and intended to block all aid entering Gaza.

While the group was waiting for their meeting with Trump on Wednesday morning, news emerged that his administration had been secretly engaged in direct negotiations with Hamas to secure the release of American hostages in Gaza and ultimately bring an end to the war.

The White House stated that it had consulted with Israel on the matter, but Netanyahu’s office appeared to disagree, releasing a brief statement.

“Israel has expressed to the United States its position regarding direct talks with Hamas.”

“You were our hope when we were there, and now you’re their hope,” said former Israeli hostage Naama Levy. “Once you were elected, we heard that you want to do everything to make a deal as soon as possible… You gave us hope.”

“So you didn’t think until I came along – you didn’t think you were going to get out?” Trump asked the group. Several of the hostages replied, “No.”

“Well, we said, ‘You better let us have those people back, you better let them out.’ We did say that and something happened, right? Now we’ve got to get the rest out,” Trump said, referring to his ultimatum last month.

“Thank you all. We’re working on it very hard,” Trump said, as each hostage approached to shake his hand. “We’ll do the best we can… Horrible stories. Not even believable… We’ll get them out. Watch. We’ll get them out.”