Trump threatens "HELL TO PAY" if Gaza hostages not released before inauguration

• The hostage families hope that his involvement both in private and in public could lead to a breakthrough in the stalled negotiations for their release.

Driving the news: Trump's statement in a post on Truth Social came a few hours after the IDF announced that Omer Neutra, an American-Israeli hostage held by Hamas, had died during the Oct. 7 attack and that his body was taken to Gaza.

• For more than 420 days, Neutra's family didn't have any information on whether he was dead or alive.
• A senior Israeli intelligence official said the determination was made after IDF obtained new information that established the fact that Neutra had been killed.
• Hamas released a video on Saturday with proof of life from U.S. citizen Edan Alexander, who is also being held hostage in Gaza, who called on Trump to negotiate for his release.
• Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Axios in an interview that Trump wants to see a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza before he assumes office on Jan. 20.

What they're saying: Trump wrote on Truth Social that the hostages "are being held so violently, inhumanely, and against the will" and threatened "ALL HELL TO PAY" if they are not released.

• He added: "Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!"

• Earlier on Monday, President Biden issued a statement expressing condolences to Neutra's family.
• "To all the families of those still held hostage: We see you. We are with you. And I will not stop working to bring your loved ones back home where they belong," Biden said.
• Ronen and Orna Neutra, parents of Omer Neutra, said in a statement they demand action and not words in order to bring the hostages back home.
• "We call upon the Israeli government to work with President Biden and President-elect Trump, to use all of their leverage and resources to return all 101 hostages — living and the deceased — to their families as soon as possible," they said.