ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Palestinian militant group Hamas cautioned Thursday that US President Donald Trump’s inflammatory remarks against the group would “encourage" Israel to avoid implementing the fragile ceasefire. 

Trump on Wednesday threatened Hamas that he would deal a blow to the group unless all hostages were released, just hours after his administration revealed it held unprecedented direct talks with Hamas, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed Tel Aviv was consulted.

"'Shalom Hamas' means Hello and Goodbye - You can choose. 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. Only sick and twisted people keep bodies, and you are sick and twisted!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform after meeting eight hostages released from Gaza 

"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,” Trump said. "This is your last warning!"

The US president also called on Hamas’s leadership to leave Gaza.

They still “have a chance,” to do so, Trump wrote. 

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qasim on Thursday said Trump's "threats complicate matters regarding the ceasefire agreement and encourage the occupation to avoid implementing its terms." 

Hamas on Sunday insisted on the implementation of a second phase of the ceasefire after Israel endorsed a US proposal for a temporary extension of the initial phase.

The ceasefire that brought the Israel-Hamas war sparked by the October 7, 2023 attack to a stop despite its fragility, has so far led to the release of 25 Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas has said it is ready to release "in one go" all the hostages numbering 59 remaining during the second phase.