Us Hostage Envoy Doubles Down On Trump's Hamas Threat

White House hostage envoy Adam Boehler doubled down Sunday on President Donald Trump's threats to Hamas if the group does not release its remaining hostages.

"It may seem like he makes empty threats," Boehler told anchor Shannon Bream on "Fox News Sunday." "Until he carries out the threat. And then it's not so empty. And then you're dead."

Trump on Wednesday lashed out at the militant group on his social media platform, Truth Social. Also on Wednesday, it was revealed the White House had been engaging in direct talks with Hamas in Qatar, seeking to secure the release of American hostages and discuss possible paths for the end of the war. The U.S. had never previously spoken directly to the group, which was classed as a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department in 1997.

The first phase of a long-sought cease-fire between Israel and Hamas ended on March 1. Negotiations on the second phase have stalled, with Israel pushing Hamas to release half its remaining hostages while blockading aid to Gaza. Twenty-four living hostages — including one American — are believed to remain in Hamas captivity, along with the bodies of 34 others.

The president last week met with eight freed hostages. He took to Truth Social after that meeting, writing to Hamas: "This is your last warning!"

“'Shalom Hamas' means Hello and Goodbye - You can choose," Trump wrote. "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."

Speaking to Bream on Sunday, Boehler recalled a recent visit to the spot in Baghdad, Iraq, where Iranian General Qasem Soleimani's car was hit by two missiles in an attack ordered by Trump during his first term.

"I remember the day he did it," Boehler said. "I actually happened to be in the West Wing. But it was surprising. No one else. No one else would do it because they were afraid."

As for the direct talks with Hamas, Boehler told Bream they centered on a central plank of Trump's foreign policy ethos: "He doesn't want war. He wants a peaceful world."

"Dialogue means sitting, hearing what someone wants, and then identifying: Does it fit with what we want or not?" Boehler said. "And then how can you get somewhere in the middle and not have a war."