Hostage Families Issue Ultimatum Demand Immediate Release of All Captives

The Forum of Hope, representing the families of hostages held by Hamas, issued a powerful statement on Friday morning, demanding the immediate release of all hostages under a strict ultimatum. The group insists that only a unified release will safeguard the lives of the captives while maintaining Israel’s security.

The forum urged the Israeli government to take a firm stance against Hamas’s extortion tactics. “We demand the release of the six hostages being held afloat by Saturday,” the statement read, emphasizing that the remaining hostages should also be freed by a specific deadline. The families firmly oppose any further release of imprisoned terrorists until all Israeli captives are returned.

The demand comes after U.S. President Donald Trump declared last week, “If all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock … I would say cancel [the ceasefire], and all bets are off, and let hell break out.” Trump's stark warning underscored the urgency of the situation.

Despite the ultimatum, Israel proceeded with a partial exchange earlier this week, accepting Hamas’s release of three Israeli hostages while releasing 369 terrorists from Israeli prisons. The move sparked criticism from the Forum of Hope, which sees piecemeal exchanges as weakening Israel’s negotiating position.

As the 12 o’clock deadline approached on Saturday, Trump reiterated his stance on Truth Social: “Israel will now have to decide what they will do about the 12:00 O’CLOCK, TODAY, DEADLINE imposed on the release of ALL HOSTAGES. The United States will back the decision they make!”

However, the deadline passed without the full release of the hostages, leaving families and the nation in a painful state of uncertainty. The Forum of Hope maintains that only decisive action can prevent Hamas from leveraging hostages as bargaining chips.

As the situation unfolds, Israel faces a critical decision on how to respond. The call for a unified release of hostages under a firm ultimatum reflects a growing sentiment that a strong, uncompromising approach may be necessary to secure their safe return.

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