What Did Trump Mean by ‘Hell Will Break Out’ if Hostages Aren’t Released?
As negotiations for the second phase of the hostage deal stall, tensions rise between Israel, Hamas, and international mediators
US President Donald Trump declared Monday that unless all Israeli hostages held by Hamas are released by Saturday at noon, Gaza would face unprecedented consequences. “Hell is going to break out,” he warned, using a phrase that has left analysts and officials speculating about its implications.
But what exactly does President Trump mean by “hell”? Even those closely following the situation remain uncertain. “Actually, there is no one, including Trump himself, that can answer this question,” said Michael Milstein, head of the Palestinian Studies Forum at the Moshe Dayan Center, to The Media Line. “When he announced it—you couldn’t really feel that there was something very planned, very organized in his mind about it. He is unpredictable,” he added.
Instead of working for the implementation of the second stage of the deal, Trump is launching threats against Gaza, threatening to turn it into hell
Nidal Foqaha, director general of the Palestinian Peace Coalition Geneva Initiative, expressed concern over how such statements could disrupt sensitive negotiations. “Instead of working for the implementation of the second stage of the deal, Trump is launching threats against Gaza, threatening to turn it into hell,” he told The Media Line. “With this, he definitely cannot help Israel, especially the families of the Israeli hostages and neither the Palestinians,” he added.
Second-Stage Talks in Limbo
While phase one of the hostage deal remains in progress, reaching the next stage appears increasingly uncertain. Hamas has grown hesitant, and Israel’s approach remains cautious. “I’m skeptical,” Foqaha admitted. “Almost a week has passed since the due date for launching or initiating the talks on stage two. Until now, the Israeli delegation is playing games instead of negotiating,” he added.
Milstein echoed these concerns, stating that Hamas has been sending mixed signals as well. “They did not speak about a total crisis or deep crisis. They spoke about a very controlled crisis,” he said. “They even said, ‘We have another five days to solve the problem, and we are still committed to the ceasefire,’” he added.
This holiday season, give to:
Truth and understanding
The Media Line's intrepid correspondents are in Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Pakistan providing first-person reporting.
They all said they cover it.
We see it.
We report with just one agenda: the truth.
If Israel really wants the next batch of hostages released next Saturday, they must send back their delegation to Doha to resume talks on stage two
According to Milstein, Hamas is using the delay to pressure Israel into discussing the release of high-profile Palestinian prisoners. “Moussa Abu Marzouk announced that Hamas will demand the release of Marwan Barghouti and Ahmed Saadat in phase two,” he noted. Meanwhile, Foqaha believes that Israel is deliberately stalling. “If Israel really wants the next batch of hostages released next Saturday, they must send back their delegation to Doha to resume talks on stage two,” he said.
West Bank: A Growing Powder Keg
As the world watches the slow-moving hostage negotiations, tensions in the West Bank are escalating. Israeli operations in Jenin, Tulkarem, and other areas have exacerbated instability. “Hundreds of terrorists are still operating in the West Bank, and they continue to promote terror,” Milstein warned. “Palestinians argue that 40,000 have been uprooted from Jenin refugee camp, Farah refugee camp, and Tulkarem refugee camp,” he added.
Foqaha, however, sees Israel’s actions as part of a broader strategy. “Israel was encouraged by President Trump’s statements,” he said. “Israel’s ambitions of control are in the West Bank, not in Gaza. If Trump says Gaza is not right for people to live in because it is destroyed, Israel may want to target as many territories in the West Bank too to claim they are uninhabitable and then annex them,” he added.
The Pay-for-Slay Debate
In addition to security concerns, financial strains are mounting for the Palestinian Authority (PA), particularly regarding the controversial prisoner payment system, known as the “pay-for-slay” policy. The PA recently enacted changes to these payments in response to international pressure. “It’s not serious,” Milstein remarked. “First of all, Abu Mazen didn’t speak about changing or abolishing the former law. He spoke about fixing, taking money from one pocket and putting it in another,” he added.
Foqaha provided a Palestinian perspective, stating that the payments serve a necessary social function. “We as Palestinians do not have a strong social security system—sometimes we don’t have one at all,” he said. “Now, this Palestinian office will make a survey on the social and economic conditions of each family and provide support based on need, not as a monthly salary,” he added.
The Future of Gaza and the West Bank
Both Gaza and the West Bank remain at a crossroads, with uncertainty defining the near future. “In Gaza, at least for two or three weeks, things will be relatively stable due to phase one,” Milstein predicted. “After that, I don’t know—Hamas will demand much tougher conditions,” he noted.
Foqaha, however, pointed to Israel’s long-term goals in the West Bank as a greater concern. “Israel wants to annex substantial areas of the West Bank,” he warned. “Unfortunately, the PA is a bit weak, deeply into its internal struggles, but that’s not an excuse.” He urged the Palestinian leadership to act decisively. “The PA should immediately wake up, call for a national conference, and initiate a national workshop to develop a comprehensive Palestinian plan,” he said.
No one will speak about normalization while Gaza is in ruins and the West Bank is in crisis
Milstein believes the broader geopolitical landscape could further complicate matters. “If we want to talk about normalization with Saudi Arabia and improving relations with the Arab world, we can forget it,” he said. “No one will speak about normalization while Gaza is in ruins and the West Bank is in crisis,” he added.
With the second stage of the hostage deal uncertain, tensions rising in the West Bank, and financial constraints looming over the PA, the region’s future remains fragile. And with Trump’s unpredictable rhetoric casting a shadow over diplomatic efforts, the coming weeks could determine whether stability holds—or if, as he warned, “hell” indeed breaks loose.
