Hamas – Parrot Mouth Blog

Trump Issues “Last Warning” to Hamas: Release Hostages or Face “Hell to Pay” as US Confirms Direct Talks

U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark “last warning” to Hamas on March 5, demanding the immediate release of all hostages in Gaza and the return of victims’ bodies, hours after the White House acknowledged direct negotiations with the militant group. “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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, shortly after meeting eight freed hostages at the White House. He vowed to provide Israel “everything it needs to finish the job” and warned, “Not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say.” The remarks came amid confirmed U.S. efforts to negotiate with Hamas—a group designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization since 1997—over hostages and a Gaza ceasefire, a departure from its longstanding policy of avoiding direct talks with such groups. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the move, stating that Trump’s hostage envoy, Adam Boehler, “has the authority to talk to anyone,” adding that Israel was consulted and dialogue serves “the best interest of the American people.” The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed it had “expressed to the United States its position regarding direct talks with Hamas.” Meanwhile, Israel halted aid to Gaza to pressure Hamas into accepting ceasefire terms, drawing condemnation from international aid groups. Trump addressed Gaza residents directly, writing, “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!” He previously called Gaza a “big real estate site” and proposed transforming it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” The U.S. has historically avoided formal talks with designated terrorist groups, though exceptions like negotiations with the Taliban under Obama and Trump set precedents. Trump’s latest escalation underscores his hardline stance as humanitarian crises in Gaza intensify. Related Posts Market offers rent-now, pay-later answer to tenants. Prospective renters in Nigeria can now breathe a sigh of relief as a rental solution that simplifies renting and facilitates Read more Rwanda retreat: Nigerian governments discuss complex issues. The Nigerian governors will attend and participate in a three-day leadership retreat in Kigali, Rwanda, designed to provide a platform Read more Shaibu: I support Obaseki and seek governorship. Philip Shaibu, the deputy governor of Edo State, has pledged to remain loyal to Edo State’s governor, Godwin Obaseki, despite Read more Citigroup expects more foreign investment in Nigeria and others despite FX turmoil. Citigroup Inc. has stated that Nigeria, Angola, and Kenya are among the African nations that are anticipated to attract more Read more Olawale Moses OyewoleOlawale Moses Oyewole is an adept writer who stays on top of current events and curate informative and engaging articles for his readers. He is a digital strategist who help brands gain online visibility.

Palestinian Militants, Hamas, Release Two Israel Hostages Amid Ceasefire Agreement

On Saturday, February 22, Palestinian militants released two Israeli hostages as part of the first phase of a fragile ceasefire deal. This marks one of the final releases of Israeli captives under the truce, which also involves the exchange of Palestinian prisoners. The release followed the confirmation of the remains of Shiri Bibas, an Israeli woman who had become a symbol of the suffering experienced by hostages since the onset of the Gaza war. Bibas, along with her two young sons, was taken hostage during the unprecedented October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which marked the beginning of over 15 months of conflict in Gaza. In the southern Gaza city of Rafah, armed and masked militants escorted two Israeli hostages—Tal Shoham and Avera Mengistu—onto a stage. Shoham was made to address the crowd before the two were handed over to the Red Cross, who transported them in a convoy. Israeli security forces later took custody of the hostages and returned them to Israeli territory, according to military sources. In Tel Aviv, a crowd gathered at ‘Hostages Square,’ reacting with applause and tears as they watched the release on broadcast. Four more hostages were scheduled to be freed later that morning as part of a separate exchange in central Gaza. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum revealed that Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem Tov, Omer Wenkert, and Hisham al-Sayed would also be released, alongside Shoham and Mengistu. Sayed and Mengistu had been held in Gaza for about a decade. The hostages’ release was part of a ceasefire deal that began on January 19 and is set to expire in early March. A Hamas source confirmed plans to release four additional hostages from Nuseirat in central Gaza later that day. The release ceremonies, staged by militants, included banners promoting their cause and honoring fallen fighters, with Hamas fighters standing with automatic weapons and rocket launchers. Palestinian nationalistic music played while green flags were displayed around war-damaged buildings. The Red Cross has repeatedly called for the handovers to be conducted with dignity. Under the ceasefire agreement, Israel is set to release 602 Palestinian prisoners, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club. Most of the prisoners are Gazans arrested after the war began, with some facing deportation. Some of the deportees were serving heavy sentences. So far, the ceasefire has resulted in the release of 21 living Israeli hostages in exchange for over 1,100 Palestinian prisoners. The release comes after Thursday’s first transfer of remains, which sparked confusion when Hamas initially claimed that the remains of Shiri Bibas had been returned. However, Israeli authorities later determined they were not hers, leading to widespread grief. Hamas later acknowledged a possible mix-up, attributing the confusion to Israeli airstrikes. The Bibas family confirmed on Friday that after identification at the Institute of Forensic Medicine, they received the devastating news that Shiri Bibas had been killed in captivity. The family expressed their sorrow, stating, “Our Shiri was murdered in captivity and has now returned home to her sons, husband, sister, and all her family to rest.” In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Hamas would “pay the full price for this cruel and evil violation of the agreement.” On February 20, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, revealed that an analysis of remains confirmed that Bibas’s sons, Ariel and Kfir, had been killed “with their bare hands” in November 2023. Hamas maintained that the children and their mother were killed by an Israeli airstrike early in the war. Shiri’s sister-in-law, Ofri Bibas, directed criticism at Netanyahu, expressing that the family was not seeking revenge but would never forgive the failure to secure the safety of Shiri and her children. Among the four bodies returned on February 20 was that of Oded Lifshitz, 83. Since the October 7 attack, 251 people had been taken hostage by Hamas and its allies. Of those, 65 remain in Gaza, with the Israeli military stating that 35 of them are dead. The initial attack in Israel resulted in 1,215 deaths, mostly civilians. In retaliation, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has led to at least 48,319 deaths, the majority of whom were civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-controlled health ministry, which the United Nations considers reliable. Related Posts Market offers rent-now, pay-later answer to tenants. Prospective renters in Nigeria can now breathe a sigh of relief as a rental solution that simplifies renting and facilitates Read more Rwanda retreat: Nigerian governments discuss complex issues. The Nigerian governors will attend and participate in a three-day leadership retreat in Kigali, Rwanda, designed to provide a platform Read more Shaibu: I support Obaseki and seek governorship. Philip Shaibu, the deputy governor of Edo State, has pledged to remain loyal to Edo State’s governor, Godwin Obaseki, despite Read more Citigroup expects more foreign investment in Nigeria and others despite FX turmoil. Citigroup Inc. has stated that Nigeria, Angola, and Kenya are among the African nations that are anticipated to attract more Read more Olawale Moses OyewoleOlawale Moses Oyewole is an adept writer who stays on top of current events and curate informative and engaging articles for his readers. He is a digital strategist who help brands gain online visibility.

Hostage Swap Highlights Fragile Ceasefire as Hamas Frees 8 More Hostages and Israel Releases 110 Palestinian Prisoners

On Thursday, January 30, a chaotic exchange between Israel and Hamas saw the release of eight more hostages by Hamas militants, further complicating the already fragile ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. The swap, part of a deal aimed at ending the war between the two sides, came after a brief delay in the release of 110 Palestinian prisoners by Israel. The exchange of hostages for prisoners has become a key component of the ceasefire agreement that was put in place to halt the violence following Hamas militants’ abduction of dozens of Israelis on October 7, 2023. Hamas also confirmed the death of Mohammed Deif, the head of its military wing and one of the key figures behind the October 7 attack. This confirmation came six months after Israel had reported that Deif had been killed in an airstrike in Gaza. Among the hostages released were three Israelis and five Thai nationals, all of whom had been taken hostage over 15 months ago while working on farms in southern Israel. In exchange, Israel released 110 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 individuals who were serving life sentences for deadly attacks against Israelis. Of those prisoners, seven were allowed to return to the occupied West Bank, while the rest were sent to Egypt before being deported to other locations. The release of prisoners was followed by a chaotic hostage handover in the Gaza Strip, where masked militants hurriedly moved the captives through a throng of thousands of Palestinians. Seven of the hostages were freed in front of the destroyed home of Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’s slain leader. The first hostage, a 20-year-old Israeli soldier named Agam Berger, was paraded in front of a smaller crowd in the heavily damaged Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza. Later, the chaotic scene intensified as Arbel Yehoud, a 29-year-old hostage, was seen looking stunned as masked militants rushed her through the shouting crowd in the southern city of Khan Younis. Other hostages released included Gadi Moses, an 80-year-old Israeli man, and five Thai laborers. Yehoud and Moses hold dual German-Israeli nationality. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the “shocking scenes” surrounding the hostage handover and urged international mediators to ensure the safety of hostages during future releases. The Thai nationals freed included Watchara Sriaoun, 33; Pongsak Thaenna, 36; Sathian Suwannakham, 35; Surasak Rumnao, 32; and Bannawat Saethao, 27. Thai officials reported that they appeared to be in good health. Earlier in November 2023, 23 Thai nationals were among the 100 hostages released during a weeklong ceasefire. However, three Thai nationals remain in captivity, with two of them believed to be dead.. Related Posts Market offers rent-now, pay-later answer to tenants. Prospective renters in Nigeria can now breathe a sigh of relief as a rental solution that simplifies renting and facilitates Read more Rwanda retreat: Nigerian governments discuss complex issues. The Nigerian governors will attend and participate in a three-day leadership retreat in Kigali, Rwanda, designed to provide a platform Read more Shaibu: I support Obaseki and seek governorship. Philip Shaibu, the deputy governor of Edo State, has pledged to remain loyal to Edo State’s governor, Godwin Obaseki, despite Read more Citigroup expects more foreign investment in Nigeria and others despite FX turmoil. Citigroup Inc. has stated that Nigeria, Angola, and Kenya are among the African nations that are anticipated to attract more Read more Olawale Moses OyewoleOlawale Moses Oyewole is an adept writer who stays on top of current events and curate informative and engaging articles for his readers. He is a digital strategist who help brands gain online visibility.

Hamas Rejects U.S. Proposal to Relocate Palestinians, Calls It an “Aggressive Scheme”

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, has firmly rejected a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump to relocate Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Egypt and Jordan. In a statement issued on Monday, Hamas condemned the plan as an “aggressive scheme” designed to displace Palestinians and undermine their national cause. The group emphasized that Palestinians, who have endured genocide and forced displacement, particularly in northern Gaza, remain steadfast in their commitment to their land and historical rights. “The Palestinians will not accept any plan that seeks to uproot or displace them,” the statement declared. Hamas also urged the U.S. administration to halt its support for Israeli policies that infringe upon Palestinian rights. Additionally, the group called on Arab and Islamic nations, especially Egypt and Jordan, to reaffirm their opposition to the displacement of Palestinians. Hamas further appealed for assistance in rebuilding Gaza and supporting Palestinians’ resilience to maintain their presence on their homeland. Related Posts US position in global justice, accountability, By Ambassador Schaack. Beth Van Schaack, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice, discusses U.S. justice and accountability policy abroad. OLUKOREDE YISHAU, chief of Read more Tinubu Unveils Ambitious Economic Plan to Halve Inflation by 2025 President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has outlined an ambitious economic agenda aimed at reducing Nigeria’s inflation rate from the current 34.6% Read more Nigeria’s Path to Prosperity: Transforming Challenges Into Sustainable Success Over the past 14 years as the Founder of TEXEM, UK, and previously as a Director of Strategy in Cambridge, Read more Nigeria and the British Monarchy: A Legacy of Visits and Diplomatic Ties Throughout history, Nigeria has enjoyed a unique relationship with the British Monarchy, marked by mutual visits that reflect shared historical, Read more Olawale Moses OyewoleOlawale Moses Oyewole is an adept writer who stays on top of current events and curate informative and engaging articles for his readers. He is a digital strategist who help brands gain online visibility.

Israeli Air Strikes Kill 150 in Gaza Over Two Days as War Escalates

At least 150 people have been killed in Gaza following two days of intense Israeli airstrikes on Thursday and Friday, December 3, as Israel continues its ongoing conflict with Hamas. This comes as negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release between Israel and Hamas continue in Qatar. Senior Hamas official Basem Naim has expressed the group’s serious commitment to a ceasefire agreement, which includes the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the return of the population to their homes. Meanwhile, Israel’s military campaign has severely impacted Gaza’s health sector, with multiple reports of damage to medical facilities. Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI) warned that the destruction of the health system in northern Gaza could be complete if Israel proceeds with evacuating the last two remaining operational medical centers, the Indonesian Hospital and al-Awda Hospital. In a statement shared on social media, PHRI stressed that, “If the Indonesian Hospital and al-Awda Hospital are forced to close by Israel’s military, there will be no medical centers left in northern Gaza.” The group also accused Israel of destroying civilian infrastructure and forcibly displacing Palestinians, violating international law, and called for international intervention to halt what it described as “ethnic cleansing.” UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk reported that 136 Israeli attacks on 27 health facilities in Gaza have resulted in significant death and destruction. Amnesty International also criticized Israel for detaining Dr. Hussam Abu Safia, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, describing it as part of a broader attempt to “annihilate” Gaza’s healthcare sector. The ongoing war has taken a devastating toll on Gaza’s population, with at least 45,658 Palestinians killed and over 108,583 injured since the conflict began on October 7, 2023. In contrast, 1,139 people were killed in Israel during Hamas-led attacks that day, and more than 200 individuals were taken captive. Related Posts Market offers rent-now, pay-later answer to tenants. Prospective renters in Nigeria can now breathe a sigh of relief as a rental solution that simplifies renting and facilitates Read more Rwanda retreat: Nigerian governments discuss complex issues. The Nigerian governors will attend and participate in a three-day leadership retreat in Kigali, Rwanda, designed to provide a platform Read more Shaibu: I support Obaseki and seek governorship. Philip Shaibu, the deputy governor of Edo State, has pledged to remain loyal to Edo State’s governor, Godwin Obaseki, despite Read more Citigroup expects more foreign investment in Nigeria and others despite FX turmoil. Citigroup Inc. has stated that Nigeria, Angola, and Kenya are among the African nations that are anticipated to attract more Read more Olawale Moses OyewoleOlawale Moses Oyewole is an adept writer who stays on top of current events and curate informative and engaging articles for his readers. He is a digital strategist who help brands gain online visibility.

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