U.S. President Donald Trump “fully supports” Israel’s decision to resume its offensive against Hamas in Gaza, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday.
“The president made it very clear to Hamas that if they did not release all of the hostages, there would be all hell to pay,” Leavitt said, per pool reports. “Unfortunately, Hamas chose to play games in the media with lives.”
“This situation, let’s not forget, is completely the fault of Hamas when they launched that brutal attack on Israel on Oct. 7,” she said, adding that Trump “fully supports Israel and the IDF and the actions that they’ve taken in recent days.”
Israel launched a ground operation in northern Gaza this week, as Hamas continues to hold 59 hostages taken during the terrorist organization’s attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Steve Witkoff, Trump’s U.S. Mideast envoy, sought to extend a ceasefire through Passover and Ramadan, during which time Hamas would release 11 living hostages and half of the bodies it holds.
Israel endorsed Witkoff’s proposal. Hamas did not.
On Sunday, U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz warned that time was running out for Hamas to release the remaining hostages.
