US President Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum to Hamas, warning that there will be "hell to pay" if all remaining captives are not released. He also suggested that he was sending Israel weapons to "finish the job".

Trump's statement came just hours after the White House confirmed it was holding direct talks with Hamas over the remaining hostages. Washington has until now avoided direct engagement with the group, and there is a longstanding US policy against having direct contact with entities it lists as terrorist organisations.

The Trump administration's secret negotiations with Hamas prior to public threats mark a significant departure from longstanding US policy against engaging terrorists. Discover the implications of these discussions on US hostages and the Gaza conflict.