WASHINGTON, D.C. – President-Elect Donald Trump is threatening there will be “all hell to pay in the Middle East” and for others who are holding hostages.
In Trump’s Truth Social post on Monday, he said in part if the hostages are not released before he takes office in mid-January, “there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East”. He also adds those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the history of the U.S.
The statement follows the death confirmation of 21 year-old Omer Neutra from New York. Neutra, an American-Israeli soldier who was believed to be held captive in Gaza, has now been confirmed he died during the October seventh attacks.
We reached out to Trump’s transition team to clarify what he means about “all hell to pay” and what kind of tactics that look like but they have not got back to us yet.
Here’s what some Senators said about Trump’s comments:
“It’s certainly important we get our hostages back,” said Sen. Gary Peters (D- MI). “I’ll let him handle it how he wants to handle it. It’s up to him.”
“It’s putting everyone that harbors Hamas on warning and those that fund Hamas on warning,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R- OK). “If you’re providing assistance to Hamas to hold hostages, you’re in the fray too and I’m glad President Trump is already leading peace through strength.”
