Reports surfaced Wednesday that the Trump administration is currently engaging in direct talks with Hamas over the release of the Israeli hostages that still remain in the clutches of the terrorist organization. The news comes as President Donald Trump issued a direct warning on social media Wednesday for Hamas to release all the remaining hostages or face severe consequences.

According to The Jerusalem Post, “The negotiations are being handled via US special envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler, with a focus on the American-Israeli captives,” marking “the first known direct dialogue between Hamas and the US administration since the US designated Hamas as a terrorist organization in 1997.” Fifty-nine hostages currently remain in captivity in Gaza, and an unverified number of them have already been killed.

In a post on Truth Social, the president wrote, “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. … 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. … 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.”

The statement followed a meeting held between Trump and eight freed hostages in the Oval Office on Wednesday, in which they described their ordeal. In video footage of the meeting, Naama Levy told the president, “You were our hope, and now you’re the hope of the rest of the hostages.” Trump asked the group, “So, you didn’t think until I came along that you’re going to get out?” “No,” they all firmly responded. At the end of the meeting, Trump remarked, “We’re going to get the rest of them. We’re working on it very hard.”

Meanwhile, Arab leaders have reportedly proposed a $53 billion plan that would rebuild Gaza, force Hamas out of power, and allow the Palestinians to stay under the leadership of a reformed Palestinian Authority, which last held power in 2007. But the Trump administration has stated that the plan is inadequate as it seeks a long-term peace deal. Currently, a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel remains in place, and Israel has reportedly accepted U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff’s framework “to extend the temporary ceasefire through Ramadan and Passover, provided that Hamas release hostages,” according Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar.

But a source told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday that Israel’s patience would not last forever. “The clock is ticking — if there is no agreement on the release of more hostages, Israel will return to fighting.”

Still, Israeli officials like David Mencer say they are grateful for Trump’s strong leadership in pursuing the release of all the hostages.

“I think that the president recognized pure evil in what has been done to those poor people,” he contended during “This Week on Capitol Hill.” “You know, about 250 of our people were taken away. Thankfully, we’ve got[ten] [them] back mostly alive, but some dead as well. More than 190 of them, but still 59 of our people remain in Hamas terror dungeons. The president recognizes what this is. He knows it’s a death cult. The survivors of that death cult told him precisely what they’d experienced. Our own health ministry, having spoken to the hostages, said that many of them had lost 40% of their body weight. Pure evil. The president recognizes that. That’s why our prime minister has said we’ve never had a friend like President Trump in the White House, and we are grateful.”

Mencer, who serves as an Israeli government spokesman for the National Public Diplomacy Directorate in the office of the Prime Minister, went on to express confidence in the Trump administration’s negotiation efforts.

“Look, the prime minister has made absolutely clear we want to take forward the Witkoff plan given by President Trump. We want to take it forward, but it means that all of our hostages need to be released. Now we’re approaching Passover. The famous phrase of ‘Let my people go’ has never resonated as much as it does now. We’ve got 59 of our hostages [left]. Half of them are still alive. We want to get them out alive and the dead ones for a decent burial here in Israel, to be reunited with their families so they have a place to grieve.”

“But our country is united,” Mencer insisted. “Our people are determined. We’re facing pure evil, and we will see it down and we will be successful.”