Former Deputy National Security Advisor KT McFarland told Newsmax on Wednesday that Israel needs to get the job done of eliminating Hamas.
Multiple intelligence and security sources at the highest levels of the U.S. and Israel confirm that authorities believe only about 20 of the 251 hostages taken alive by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, remain alive.
"It's a gut punch," McFarland said on "National Report". "We thought there were going to be probably 100, including some Americans. If it really is only 20, these people have a lot to answer for."
Trump has vowed serious and deadly consequences unless the American hostages are released.
At his Mar-a-Lago press conference Tuesday, Trump vowed that "all hell will break out in the Middle East" if the hostages are not released by Jan. 20, the date of his inauguration.
"And it will not be good for Hamas and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone," Trump said. "We want to get back those hostages for Israel and for us."
McFarland said Trump should tell Israel to get the job done.
"If there's anything left of Hamas, obliterate it," McFarland said. "That will be the punishment. If it works to their political advantage or economic advantage or military advantage, bad actors are going to keep taking hostages. And we have the whole cycle repeating itself."
McFarland, who served in the first Trump administration, noted Trump was fiercely protective of American citizens and vulnerable people.
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Sam Barron ✉
Sam Barron has almost two decades of experience covering a wide range of topics including politics, crime and business.
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