Trump threatens Hamas: 'Return hostages before I assume office - or pay a big price'

Former president demands Hamas release captives before he returns to office, threatening the terror group if his demand is not met.

By World Israel News Staff

Former president and 2024 Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Thursday demanded that Hamas release captives it has held since October 7th, threatening the terror group if his demand was not met by January 20th, 2025.

Speaking during the final day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Thursday, Trump addressed the Gaza invasion of southwestern Israel on October 7th, and the capture of 250 hostages.

The former president claimed that the attack would not have taken place had he been reelected in 2020.

“I will end every single international crisis that the current administration has created, including the horrible war with Russia and Ukraine, which would have never happened if I was president,” Trump said.

“And the war caused by the attack on Israel, which would never have happened if I was president. Iran was broke. Iran had no money. Now Iran has $250 billion. They made it all over the last two and a half years. They were broke.”

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Later in his address, Trump demanded the return of “our hostages” – without specifying if his ultimatum was limited to captives in Gaza with American citizenship – and laid out a deadline for their release, warning Hamas would pay a “very big price” if the hostages were not freed by inauguration day, 2025.

“And to the entire world, I tell you this, we want our hostages back — and they better be back before I assume office, or you will be paying a very big price.”

The former president also repeatedly praised Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense network and pledged to build a similar system in the U.S.

“Israel has an Iron Dome. They have a missile defense system. Three hundred forty-two missiles were shot into Israel, and only one got through a little bit. It was badly wounded, it fell to the ground.”

“Why should other countries have this, and we don’t? No, no, we’re going to build an iron dome over our country, and we’re going to be sure that nothing can come and harm our people.”

“We will replenish our military and build an iron dome missile defense system to ensure that no enemy can strike our homeland.”