President-elect Donald Trump called for all hostages in the Middle East be released before his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, seemingly referring to the more than 50 hostages believed to be still alive in Gaza, Semafor reports. Trump said there will be “all hell to pay,” if they are not. 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.” New York Times: Trump threatens ‘hell to pay’ unless Gaza hostages are freed before inauguration.