Trump Announces “10 More Hostages Will Be Released Very Soon from Gaza”
A Hamas official claimed progress in ceasefire talks but demanded Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza, while President Trump announced advancements in securing the release of 10 hostages. Israel remains steadfast against Hamas’s terror tactics, which exploit hostages and Gaza’s civilians, as the U.S. supports Israel’s defense efforts.
Earlier today, a senior Hamas official claimed progress in negotiations with Israel while demanding a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza as a “non-negotiable condition.” Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, the official described Israel’s proposed IDF redeployment maps as a “positive step” but insisted that only U.S. pressure on Israel could secure a deal. This rhetoric, cloaked in calls for an end to what Hamas falsely labels Israel’s “aggression,” masks the group’s brutal legacy, including the October 7, 2023, massacre that killed 1,200 Israelis and saw 251 hostages dragged into Gaza’s tunnels. The official’s push for a deal to release 10 of the 50 remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian security prisoners underscores Hamas’s callous exploitation of captives for political leverage.
In a hopeful development, President Donald Trump announced on July 19, “We've gotten back most of the hostages... We hope to finish it quickly,” crediting envoy Steve Witkoff for advancing talks to free 10 more hostages. Israel, defending itself against Hamas’s relentless terror, has faced immense pressure from the group’s tactics, which include using Gaza’s civilians as human shields while hoarding aid and plunging the territory into chaos.
The IDF’s precise strikes, like those in Khan Younis on July 18, target Hamas operatives hiding among civilians, yet the group’s propaganda deflects blame onto Israel. Social media posts on X echo outrage, with one user stating, “Hamas holds hostages and starves Gazans, then cries victim, despicable.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, rejecting Hamas’s demands, insists on dismantling the group’s military capabilities to protect Israel’s citizens. The U.S., a steadfast ally, continues to back Israel’s right to self-defense, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging a resolution while navigating Hamas’s intransigence. Trump’s announcement offers hope, but Hamas’s history of broken promises and violence against both Israelis and Gazans demands skepticism as Israel fights to secure its people and free the hostages.