Hamas has made it clear that it will only release Israeli prisoners if the ceasefire agreement with Israel is respected.

A senior Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threats, saying that threats will not help but will only make things worse.

On Monday, Trump warned that if Hamas did not release all Israeli hostages by Saturday, he would propose canceling the ceasefire and letting the war escalate.

However, Hamas has accused Israel of violating the truce by continuing military strikes on Gaza. Because of this, the group has postponed any further hostage releases until further notice.

In addition to his threat, Trump has suggested a controversial plan for Gaza. He proposed that the United States should take over the region, relocate its more than 2 million residents, and turn it into a luxury tourist destination, calling it the “Riviera of the Middle East.” This proposal has sparked outrage across the Arab world, including in Jordan.

Trump is set to meet Jordan’s King Abdullah, and tensions are expected to be high. The U.S. president has also warned that he might cut aid to Jordan if the country refuses to resettle Palestinian refugees.

The ongoing war in Gaza started after Hamas launched attacks on Israeli territory in October 2023. Since mid-January, a ceasefire agreement has been in place, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.

However, with both sides accusing each other of violations, the situation remains unstable.

For now, Hamas stands firm in its position: No ceasefire, no prisoner release.