(JNS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday, Dec. 3 for the latter’s “strong statement” calling on Hamas to release the 101 hostages it has held in Gaza for 424 days.

“It is a forceful statement, which makes it clear that there is only one responsible for this situation, and that is Hamas,” the Israeli premier said.

“Hamas needs to release the hostages,” Netanyahu said. “President Trump put the emphasis in the correct place, on Hamas, and not on the Israeli government, as is customary in some places.”

In his Monday statement, Trump vowed that there will be consequences for Hamas if the terror group does not release the hostages before his Jan. 20 inauguration.

“If the hostages are not released prior to Jan. 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume office as president of the United States, there will be all hell to pay in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against humanity,” Trump stated. “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.”

Netanyahu said his government would continue to do everything in its power to release the 101 captives from Gaza, warning Hamas terrorists that “whoever harms them, their blood is on their own heads.”

“President Trump also said this yesterday, and this adds validity to this whole adage,” he said. “We have already proven that we are fulfilling this edict, and we will not relent. We will return all of our hostages.”