Trump tells Hamas, 'Only sick, twisted people keep bodies,' but what about Israel?

US President Donald Trump threatened the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, on Wednesday with “severe consequences” if it continues to hold Israeli captives and the bodies of dead hostages. “Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!” said Trump on his social media platform.

“Shalom Hamas means Hello or Goodbye – You can choose. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you,” said Trump.

However, the US president ignored the fact that Israel is withholding the bodies of at least 665 Palestinians killed by the Israeli army, including some killed decades ago. According to Palestinian NGO the National Campaign to Retrieve Martyrs’ Bodies, Israel keeps the bodies in the so-called “Cemeteries of Numbers” and mortuaries.

These cemeteries have graves with each bearing a metal plate with a number instead of the deceased’s name. The numbers correspond to individual files kept secretly by the Israeli security authorities.

READ: Israel holding bodies of 198 Palestinians killed in 2024: NGO

Among the withheld bodies are 259 Palestinians killed before the outbreak of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023. There are also the bodies of 67 people who died in Israeli jails; 59 children under the age of 18; and nine women.

These figures do not include the bodies of Palestinians detained in Gaza during the Israeli war, as there is no available information about their exact number or whereabouts.

According to figures released by the Israeli media, the bodies of over 1,500 Palestinians are held in the notorious Sde Teiman prison in the Negev in southern Israel.

Ignoring the reality of Israel withholding the bodies of dead Palestinians, Trump vowed to provide all necessary support to the occupation state.

“I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say,” he insisted. “Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!”

Trump has repeatedly called to “take over” Gaza and resettle its population to develop it into a tourist destination. His plan was rejected by the Arab world and many other nations, who say it amounts to ethnic cleansing.

Israel’s genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza has killed at least 50,000 people, mostly women and children, and wounded 112,000 others since October 2023. The genocide, which has left the enclave in ruins, was paused under a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that came into effect on 19 January.

The three-phase agreement includes prisoner swaps under which all Israeli captives – alive and dead – will be returned in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. So far, 25 Israeli hostages and eight bodies have been released in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners under the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, refused to enter negotiations for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement as that would mean being committed to ending the war. Instead, he wants to extend the first six-week phase of the deal. In any case, he ordered last Sunday that all humanitarian aid to Gaza should be stopped from entering the enclave.

Hamas has refused to proceed under these conditions, insisting that Israel abide by the terms of the ceasefire and immediately start negotiations for the second phase, which includes a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a complete halt to the war.

READ: Why the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire negotiations is failing

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