Gaza Peace Process ‘IS NOT DONE,’ Trump Warns as Hamas Withholds Hostage Remains
President Donald Trump issued a stark warning Tuesday, declaring that the Gaza peace process remains incomplete as Hamas has yet to return the bodies of 24 deceased Israeli hostages, violating a key part of the ceasefire deal brokered under his administration.
“ALL TWENTY HOSTAGES ARE BACK AND FEELING AS GOOD AS CAN BE EXPECTED. A big burden has been lifted, but the job IS NOT DONE,” Trump wrote on Truth Social following his return from a high-stakes peace summit in Egypt and an address to Israel’s Knesset.
“THE DEAD HAVE NOT BEEN RETURNED, AS PROMISED! Phase Two begins right NOW!!!”
The former—and now current—Commander-in-Chief referred to the remaining remains of hostages still being held inside Gaza. Hamas released 20 living Israeli captives on Monday, along with four sets of remains, but has so far failed to repatriate the rest. Trump’s comments signal increasing frustration with Hamas as Israel tightens pressure in response to the group’s alleged violations of the ceasefire.
When asked directly by reporters whether Hamas was upholding the deal, Trump answered curtly: “We’ll find out.”
Hostage Families Demand Action
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a key advocacy group for relatives of the captives, issued an urgent letter to U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff demanding immediate pressure be placed on Hamas.
“What we feared is now happening before our eyes,” the group wrote. “We must ensure that all remaining hostages come home. We cannot rest, and we know you will not rest, until every last hostage is returned.”
They added, “We ask you to pull out every stop and leave no stone unturned in demanding that Hamas fulfill their end of the agreement and bring all the remaining hostages home.”
Hamas Claims Delays Due to Chaos in Gaza
Hamas officials claim the delay in returning the bodies stems from the chaos left by months of war. The group insists it needs more time to locate the deceased, some of whom they say were not in their direct custody but instead held by other jihadist factions within Gaza.
Despite promising to release at least four more bodies on Tuesday, Israeli authorities are unconvinced. The Israeli military has responded by closing the Rafah border crossing, halving the amount of humanitarian aid allowed into the Gaza Strip. Only 300 trucks will be permitted to enter on Wednesday, down from the agreed 600.
“Hamas violated the agreement regarding the release of the bodies of the hostages,” Israel’s humanitarian office for Gaza said in a statement explaining the aid restrictions.
Trump’s Phase Two Begins
Trump’s 20-point ceasefire deal, hailed by leaders across the region as a potential blueprint for long-term peace, outlines a multistep path toward the full disarmament of Hamas, the formation of an interim government in Gaza, and the deployment of international peacekeepers.
Hamas, however, has repeatedly rejected any scenario that involves disarmament or surrendering control of the enclave.
The president’s latest message indicates that the implementation of Phase Two is underway—likely involving further diplomatic and strategic pressure on Hamas to comply with the agreement in full.
Trump’s camp remains adamant that the ceasefire will not be considered a true success until all hostages—living and deceased—are returned, and Hamas complies with the agreed-upon terms.
“This is not over,” one senior Trump advisor told reporters. “This president didn’t come this far just to settle for half a deal.”