Hamas denounced US President Donald Trump's “double standards” which ignore the facts of ethnic cleansing and genocide on the ground in Gaza, after Trump accused Hamas of using Israeli captives as “human shields.” Hamas maintains that Israel is responsible for the fate of its captives, as it escalates its assault on the strip and tightens the blockade.
On Tuesday, Hamas stated that the fate of Israeli captives in Gaza lies entirely with “the government of terrorist Netanyahu.” It warned that Israel’s “systematic destruction and genocidal assault on Gaza City” placed captives at greater risk, assigning full responsibility to the Israeli prime minister. The group further blamed the US administration for providing political, military, and diplomatic cover for what it described as a war of extermination.
The group argued that the US administration is fully aware that “war criminal Netanyahu” is preventing any deal on captives or a ceasefire. Trump’s remarks are “a clear display of double standards that ignore ethnic cleansing and the killing of around 65,000 civilians, most of them women and children,” the movement's statement added.
Hamas further pointed to Israel’s Sept. 9 airstrike in Doha, which killed five of its members—including the son of senior leader Khalil Al-Hayya—and a Qatari security officer—while negotiations on Trump’s own ceasefire proposal were underway.
Earlier in the week, Trump claimed to have seen reports of captives being relocated to deter Israel’s ground assault, in a statement posted to Truth Social. “I hope the Leaders of Hamas know what they’re getting into if they do such a thing.” he wrote. “Don’t let this happen or, ALL “BETS” ARE OFF. RELEASE ALL HOSTAGES NOW!” Trump warned.
In a visit to Jerusalem this week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also conditioned the US' commitment to “continue to explore and be dedicated to a peaceful outcome” on the summary elimination of Hamas. “We have a very short window of time in which a deal can happen. We don’t have months anymore, and we probably have days and maybe a few weeks to go,” Rubio added.
Israel’s war on Gaza, which began on Oct. 7, 2023, has killed about 65,000 Palestinians and injured more than 164,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. At least 413 people, including 143 children, have died from famine caused by Israel’s blockade on aid.
On Tuesday, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory concluded that “the state of Israel had committed a genocide” as its relentless assault on the Strip approaches its second year.
