US Vice President-elect J.D. Vance explained President-elect Donald Trump's threat to "open the gates of hell" if the hostages are not released by his inauguration day on January 20.

Vance, the former senator from Ohio, told Fox News that the consequences of not releasing the hostages by January 20 could include "enabling Israel to eliminate the last battalions of Hamas and its leadership, in addition to imposing very strong sanctions on individuals who support terrorist groups in the region."

He added that "this means actually doing the job of American leadership," as he put it.

Vance said: "This is what Donald Trump has done so well for four years, and he will do so very well for the next four years."

The US Vice President-elect also made it clear that he believes that an agreement to release the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza may be reached before Trump returns to the White House next week.

The reference comes at a time when Trump's threats against Hamas have escalated, to agree to a deal on hostages before his inauguration.

Vance said: "We are optimistic that there will be an agreement reached by the end of the Biden administration, perhaps in the last couple of days."

Israel is still trying to recover nearly 100 hostages still being held in Gaza by Hamas, about half of them alive, noting that some women and children were released in a deal more than a year ago.

Steve Witkoff, Trump's incoming Middle East envoy, recently traveled to Israel and Qatar to participate in the negotiations.

It is noteworthy that Trump renewed his threat on Tuesday to "open the gates of hell" on the Middle East, if Hamas does not release Israeli prisoners held in Gaza before he arrives at the White House on January 20.

Hamas rejected Trump's threats, and Taher al-Nunu, a leader in the movement, said: "It is better for Trump to think about making mediation efforts successful and ending the war in Gaza instead of threats that will only bring more destruction and killing to our Palestinian people."