Supporters of Israelis held hostage in the Gaza Strip since October 2023 at  a rally  alling to complete the exchange deal with the Palestinian Hamas group to bring the remaining captives back, outside the PM’s office in Jerusalem on Tuesday  — AFP

Agencies WASHINGTON/GAZA/CAIRO

A shadow of doom looms over the future of Gaza and Palestinians living in the enclave as US President Donald Trump has doubled down on his threat to take over the territory and end the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The American President has warned Hamas that "all hell will break loose" following its threats to postpone the exchange of hostages under the war truce with Israel. 

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office late on Monday, the US President also said he might withhold aid to Jordan and Egypt if those countries do not take Palestinian refugees being relocated from Gaza. Trump’s comments came after Hamas said it was delaying the release of hostages indefinitely over “violations” of the ceasefire deal, prompting Israel’s defence minister to put the country’s military on alert with orders to prepare for “any scenario in Gaza”.

Describing Hamas's move as "terrible", President Trump said would "let that be Israel's decision" on what should ultimately happen to the ceasefire. "But as far as I'm concerned, if all of the hostages aren't returned by Saturday 12 o'clock -- I think it's an appropriate time -- I would say cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out," Trump said, adding that "all" the remaining hostages should be freed, "not in dribs and drabs, not two and one and three and four and two."

He did not elaborate on what the threat entailed, saying only that "Hamas will find out what I mean". Trump said Palestinians would have no right to return to Gaza under his US takeover plan, describing his proposal in excerpts of an interview released Monday as a "real estate development for the future”. The remarks are the latest effective endorsement of ethnic cleansing by the US President, who announced his plan last week during a summit with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to the outrage of the Arab world and the surprise of even his closest aides.

In the interview with Fox's Bret Baier, Trump said  "I would own it" and that there could be as many as six different sites for Palestinians to live outside Gaza under the plan, which the Arab world and others in the international community have rejected. No serious discussions have so far taken place in the Pentagon or the State Department regarding how the US could legally or logistically handle the task proposed by Trump. 

Ceasefire is only way out: Hamas

A report  from CAIRO quoted senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri telling Reuters on Tuesday, "Trump must remember that there is an agreement that must be respected by both parties, and this is the only way to bring back the prisoners. The language of threats has no value and only complicates matters," he said.