Donald Trump Warns of ‘Hell to Pay’ Amid Middle East Hostage Crisis

President-elect Donald Trump issued a stark warning Monday over the ongoing hostage crisis in Gaza, as regional tensions escalated with the first reported Hezbollah attack since implementation of a ceasefire along Israel’s northern border.

In a message posted to his Truth Social platform, Trump demanded immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas, warning of unprecedented retaliation if the order goes unheeded by his inauguration date of January 20.

“Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East,” Trump said, adding that “Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!”

Newsweek contacted the Trump transition team via email on Monday for comment.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who advises Trump on foreign policy, particularly regarding the Middle East, previously told Axios that the president-elect wants a ceasefire and hostage deal before taking office. “Trump is more determined than ever to release the hostages and supports a ceasefire that includes a hostage deal. He wants to see it happening now,” Graham said following recent meetings with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

President Joe Biden and Trump discussed the Gaza hostages during a two-hour Oval Office meeting just two weeks ago. Additional meetings occurred between White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Trump’s incoming national security adviser, U.S. GOP Representative Mike Waltz of Florida, as well as between Biden’s top Middle East adviser Brett McGurk and Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

At the moment, 101 hostages remain in Gaza, including seven American citizens, with Israeli intelligence services believing roughly half are still alive. The crisis began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in more than a year of war.

Trump’s warning coincided with fresh violence along the Israel-Lebanon border. On Monday, the Israeli military reported that Hezbollah launched two projectiles toward Mount Dov, a contested area in the Shebaa Farms region. Israeli military correspondent Yoav Zeyton confirmed the projectiles fell in open areas, causing no casualties or damage. Hezbollah characterized the attack as a “defensive and warning response” to alleged Israeli ceasefire violations.

Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told Axios that Trump “was reelected because the American people trust him to lead our country and bring stability and peace back to the Middle East.”

White House officials say Biden intends to continue pushing for a hostage deal until his last day in office, even if Trump ultimately gets credit for a deal.

A Hamas delegation is scheduled to visit Cairo on Saturday to discuss new Egyptian proposals for a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal.

This article includes reporting from the Associated Press.