Trump’s Warnings to Hamas
On January 7, President-elect Donald Trump issued a strong warning to Hamas, stating that if the group does not release the hostages before his inauguration, “all hell will break loose.”
Speaking at a press conference in Mar-a-Lago, Trump emphasized, “It won’t be good for Hamas, and it won’t be good, frankly, for anyone,” while refraining from detailing specific actions.
A day earlier, Trump reinforced this stance during an interview with conservative broadcaster Hugh Hewitt, saying, “If the hostages are not released by the time I take office, there will be a heavy price to pay.”
In response, Hamas officials claimed that Trump lacks the means to pressure their military wing, led by Muhammad Sinwar, which holds the majority of the hostages.
It should also be noted that the Islamic Jihad organization holds approximately 30 of the 100 Israeli hostages in Gaza.
Proposed Measures to Pressure Hamas
Senior Israeli security officials believe President Trump can exert substantial pressure on Hamas directly and through intermediaries.
However, the feasibility of such measures depends on Trump’s willingness to confront key regional players, including Egypt and Qatar.
Egypt faces internal instability due to growing pressure from the Muslim Brotherhood, while Qatar’s ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, maintains a close relationship with Trump.
Targeting Hamas and Islamic Jihad Leadership Abroad
- Diplomatic Pressure: The U.S. could pressure countries hosting Hamas leaders—such as Qatar, Turkey, Lebanon, Algeria, Sudan, Malaysia, and Indonesia—to either arrest these individuals or expel them.
This includes figures like Khalil al-Haya and Zaher al-Jabarin, based in Turkey, and Islamic Jihad leaders such as Ziad al-Nakhala and Akram al-Ajouri in Lebanon.
- Closing Hamas Offices: The U.S. could urge Turkey to shut down Hamas’ military wing offices in Istanbul and deport key leaders.
Financial Measures
- Freezing Bank Accounts: The U.S. could impose sanctions to freeze bank accounts belonging to senior Hamas officials in Qatar, Turkey, and Lebanon. These accounts reportedly hold tens of billions of dollars.
- Targeting Money Transfer Networks: Sanctions could also be imposed on Turkish money exchange offices that facilitate laundering and transferring funds to Hamas’ military wing, often through cryptocurrency or other currencies.
Military and Humanitarian Strategies
- Reducing Humanitarian Aid: The U.S. could reduce the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, which Hamas often seizes and resells to fund its operations.
- Supporting IDF Operations: Providing international backing for Israeli Defense Forces’ aggressive actions against Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza could weaken the groups militarily.
Recommendations for Immediate Action
Israeli security officials recommend that President Trump implement these measures immediately upon entering the White House if a partial deal for the release of the hostages has not been reached by January 20.
These actions would aim to exert maximum pressure on Hamas and its allies to expedite a resolution to the hostage crisis.
