What Would Trump’s Idea of Gaza ‘Hell’ Look Like?

Israelis believe that if the deal for incremental releases of hostages collapses, they have options to inflict further punishment on Hamas and end the terrorist group’s control of Gaza.

AP/Ohad Zwigenberg
Relatives and supporters of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip protest outside the prime minister's office at Jerusalem, February 11, 2025, after Hamas announced it would delay a planned hostage release, accusing Israel of violating the cease-fire. AP/Ohad Zwigenberg

President Trump’s threat of inflicting “hell” on Gaza is widely being dismissed as bluster: After all, isn’t the Strip already an earthly Hades? Yet, Israelis believe that if the deal for incremental releases of hostages collapses, they do have options to inflict further punishment on Hamas and end the terrorist group’s control of Gaza.  

“I have a Saturday deadline, and I don’t think they’re going to make the deadline, personally,” Mr. Trump said of Hamas while hosting King Abdullah II of Jordan at the White House on Tuesday. “I think they want to play tough guy but we’ll see how tough they are.”

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