Trump Threatens Palestinians
He isn't just trying to attack Hamas, but the civilians as well if hostages aren't released.
Trump is going all in on his attacks not just on Hamas, but on Palestinians in general. In a post to Truth Social, the President warned that unless the hostages were released, Hamas wouldn’t be the only ones paying the price. Rather, Palestinians would be “DEAD” if nothing changed.1 The threats by President Trump come amid previous endorsements of ethnic cleansing, including claims that the United States would “own” Gaza.2 Such calls are not only showing Trump’s disregard for human rights but are downright unacceptable for long-term peace in the region.
Trump’s Dehumanizing Comments
While much has been said about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, far too little attention has been paid to the continuing role of the United States in perpetuating Israel’s ongoing military operations, even as they result in the deaths of civilians who have nothing to do with the war crimes committed on October 7th. 3
While the Biden administration failed to secure a long-term ceasefire, President Trump has gone out of his way to threaten the very idea of Palestinian self-determination, arguing for the removal of Palestinians from Gaza.4 In his post on Truth Social, Trump warned what would happen to Palestinians if Hamas didn’t return its hostages. It’s worth reiterating here hostage-taking is a war crime, no matter who does it. 5
Nonetheless, the President seemingly didn’t care for distinguishing between civilians and combatants, posting:
“Shalom Hamas” means Hello and 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. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted! 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. I have just met with your former Hostages whose lives you have destroyed. This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance. Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!
DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA6
These statements are not only damning because of the abject insanity of the rhetoric being espoused, but also because of the assumption by Trump that all Palestinians are responsible for Hamas. This is unacceptable.
The same government does not govern Palestinians in Gaza as Palestinians in the West Bank. While Hamas controls the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Authority controls the West Bank. Moreover, Palestinians in Gaza haven’t had an election since 2006, when Hamas won with an estimated 44 percent of the vote. This meant that Hamas gained a plurality of the vote while other parties were split, giving the terrorist group control. 7
In other words, a majority of the Palestinians didn’t vote for Hamas and can’t be blamed for the actions of the terrorist organization. Nor can they be held responsible for the election results in 2006, as nearly half of the Palestinians in Gaza are under the age of 18.8 They couldn’t vote back then.
Conclusion
Whether or not Trump likes it, Palestinians and Hamas are not the same thing. They are not inherently intertwined and the people shouldn’t bear the responsibility of the crimes of Hamas. In the same way that Israeli civilians shouldn’t suffer because of Netanyahu’s alleged war crimes, so too are Palestinians entitled to the protections for civilians that are guaranteed under international law.9 Palestinians deserve a future where they are not subject to the reckless, reactionary whims of Israel’s President or the wrath of the President of the United States.
Donald Trump, “Truth Social,” Post, Truth Social, March 5, 2025, https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114112015891353323.
Noah Lanard, “Trump Calls for Ethnic Cleansing and Using US Troops to ‘Own’ Gaza – Mother Jones,” Mother Jones, February 5, 2025, https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/02/trump-gaza-own-ethnic-cleaning-us-troops-middle-east-israel-palestine-gaza-netanyahu/.
“October 7 Crimes Against Humanity, War Crimes by Hamas-Led Groups | Human Rights Watch,” Human Rights Watch (blog), July 17, 2024, https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/07/17/october-7-crimes-against-humanity-war-crimes-hamas-led-groups.
Sharon Zhang, “Trump Threatens ‘Hell’ to All Palestinians in Gaza Over Captive Release Deal,” Truthout, March 6, 2025, https://truthout.org/articles/trump-threatens-hell-to-all-palestinians-in-gaza-over-captive-release-deal/.
“Hostage-Taking,” The International Committee of the Red Cross, accessed March 6th, 2025, https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/customary-ihl/v1/rule96.
Donald Trump, “Truth Social,” Post, Truth Social, March 5, 2025.
Nur Ibrahim, “Explainer: Was Hamas Elected by a Majority of Palestinians in Gaza?,” Snopes, November 6, 2023, https://www.yahoo.com/news/explainer-hamas-elected-majority-palestinians-215700876.html.
Linah Mohammad et al., “Half of Gaza’s Population Is under 18. Here’s What That Means for the Conflict,” NPR, October 18, 2023, sec. Middle East, https://www.npr.org/2023/10/18/1206897328/half-of-gazas-population-is-under-18-heres-what-that-means-for-the-conflict.
Molly Quell, “Top War-Crimes Court Issues Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Others in Israel-Hamas Fighting,” The Associated Press, November 21, 2024, https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2024/top-war-crimes-court-issues-arrest-warrants-for-netanyahu-and-others-in-israel-hamas-fighting/.