Israel Briefing Day 518: Hamas threatens hostage murders after Trump ultimatum

However, Trump doubled down on his threats, saying that harsher action may be needed, and refusing to rule out joint Israeli-US military action.

Asked in the Oval Office whether he could order military strikes, Trump responded: “Well, we’re going to find out.” He went on: “Somebody’s going to have to get a lot rougher than they’re getting. It’s a shame.”

The President also spoke about his meeting on Wednesday with a group of former hostages: “I had the honour of spending a lot of time yesterday with quite a few of the people that we got out, and I can’t believe how badly treated they were,” he said.

In related news, just one day after it emerged that the US and Hamas are holding unprecedented direct negotiations, the talks have reportedly hit a roadblock. The discussions were being led by US hostage envoy Adam Boehler in Qatar and came to light on Wednesday after a report in Axios,followed by White House confirmation. Now the talks are public, they are reportedly in crisis, while Jerusalem is unhappy about the direct Washington-Hamas channel.

Elsewhere, the British-Israeli freed hostage Emily Damari gave an impassioned plea yesterday for the release of her friends Gali and Ziv Berman, who are still being held in Gaza.

She said in a message played at a hostage rally: “I wake up every day and count the days since this nightmare began.”

“I think of you with every sip of water, every bite of food, every time I lie on a bed and not a mattress.”

She urged the pair to stay strong, saying: “Lift your heads, close your eyes, and feel us with you.” And, addressing political decision-makers, she urged: “Do not let politics delay this deal. Bring them home, now.”

Some returned hostages have lost two-fifths – 40 per cent – of their bodyweight and often received less than half the necessary food intake during their time in Gaza, the Israeli Ministry of Health has revealed.

Dr Hagar Mizrahi, head of the Health Ministry’s medical division, described “severe nutritional deficiencies and muscle mass loss, to the extent that some of the returnees require continued physiotherapy to rebuild their muscles”. The ministry is expected to submit its findings to the Red Cross.

In contrast, a conference that was expected to lambast Israel for allegedly violating the Geneva Conventions has been cancelled due to a lack of participants, Switzerland’s Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed. The event was due to take place today.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military is reportedly acting to quell concerns that soldiers could be arrested when travelling abroad as civilians. There have been cases of pro-Palestinian organisations initiating arrest warrants in various countries, citing photographs of Israelis in army settings.

According to Hebrew media reports yesterday, the IDF is considering banning photography of soldiers at upcoming ceremonies for Yom Hatzmaut and Yom Hazikaron in order to prevent such cases.

And America has softened its stance on an Egypt-led plan for the future of Gaza, which is conceived as an alternative to Trump’s proposal of US-control and Gazan resettlement.

Unlike the US plan, which would move Palestinians out of the area, the Egyptian plan would reconstruct Gaza without removing its population. US envoy Steve Witkoff called it a “good-faith first step” yesterday, suggesting Washington is reducing its initial opposition and is open to discussions. However, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce later said it “does not fulfil the requirements” of Washington.

Meanwhile, in Lebanon, Hezbollah is said to be facing one of the most severe crises in its history. Israel’s Channel 12 reported this morning that the group’s political influence is weakening, financial support is dwindling, and public criticism, which was previously very muted, is mounting.

Lebanese media and influential Shiite figures are openly challenging the organisation, which was unthinkable in the past. Lebanese journalists report growing disillusionment within the group.

Back in Israel, some 60 per cent of Israelis believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should resign, a Channel 12 poll has found.

Likud would remain the largest party with 25 seats, according to the survey, but Netanyahu would lose control of the Knesset as opposition parties would secure a 61-seat majority. If Naftali Bennett entered the race, he and Likud would tie at 24 seats.

The poll also found that 75 per cent of Israelis support a state inquiry into the 7 October attacks. Additionally, 42 per cent support dismissing Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, while 41 per cent oppose it, reflecting deep political divisions.

The Israeli government’s new attempt to oust Baharav-Miara is causing major controversy. On Wednesday, it emerged that Justice Minister Yariv Levin has initiated the move, but the former Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit has lambasted the idea, raising concerns it will revive the conflicts of the attempted judicial reforms that divided the country before the war and represents “a return to the judicial coup in full force.”

Countering Levin’s claim that removing the AG would strengthen the rule of law, Mendelblit said: “Her dismissal contravenes the rule of law in Israel.”

Finally, Israel is reportedly considering reducing its intelligence sharing with Washington, out of concerns about the growing closeness between the Trump administration and Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin. According to NBC News, Israel and several other countries are considering revising protocols amid worries that “identities of foreign assets could inadvertently be shared with Moscow.”

Other countries that are concerned include the UK, Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia and New Zealand. Israeli officials denied the report and insisted that cooperation with the US remains “strong and solid as ever.” Officials from Canada and the UK also rejected claims that intelligence-sharing would be reduced, while other nations involved did not comment.

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