Mr. Trump demands the release of hostages from Hamas on social media... Warning of "all the wrath of hell" if not complied.

[Washington=Keita Ikeda, Jerusalem=Toshiyuki Fukushima] On the 2nd, President-elect Trump of the USA, in a post on his own social media, demanded that Hamas, an Islamist group continuing fighting with Israel in the Gaza Strip, release the hostages abducted in Israel by January next year before taking office. He warned that if they do not comply, they will face 'the wrath of all hell'.

After winning the November presidential election, this is the first time Mr. Trump has publicly commented on the hostages in Gaza. He pointed out that the hostages are 'being detained violently, inhumanely, and contrary to the will of the entire world,' and demanded, 'Those responsible will suffer a greater blow than anyone in the long history of the USA. Release the hostage now!'

He criticized the lack of action accompanying the negotiations for the release of hostages between the parties, but did not mention specific measures for progress. During the election campaign, Mr. Trump called for an early end to the fighting in Gaza.

Mr. Trump's post was made a few hours after the Israeli government announced the death of an American-Israeli man. Hamas on November 30 released a video of another American-Israeli man being held hostage. In the video, this man was asking Mr. Trump to act for the release of the hostages.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed his gratitude to Mr. Trump on social media on the 2nd.