ReutersThe Israeli Prime Minister warned that Hamas would end the Gaza ceasefire and that if Palestinian groups “do not return hostages by noon on Saturday,” they would resume a fierce battle.
Benjamin Netanyahu said that Hamas ordered Israeli troops to be gathered inside and around Gaza in response to an announcement that he had postponed the release of more hostages until further notice.
Netanyahu did not specify whether he was requesting the release of all 76 remaining hostages or whether he was requesting the three who are scheduled to be released this Saturday, but the minister said he had said, “Everyone.” It said it means “.
Hamas accused Israel of violating the three-week-old ceasefire contract, including blocking important humanitarian aid — claims Israel denied.
Following Netanyahu’s statement, the group has continued to commit to a ceasefire agreement, with Israel saying “it is responsible for any complications and delays.”
With Hamas’ decision to delay scheduled release this weekend, President Donald Trump proposes “breaking hell” unless Israel cancels its contract entirely and “all hostages” are returned by Saturday. I was urged to do so.
Following a four-hour meeting of Israel’s security cabinet on Tuesday, Netanyahu said in a video statement that he “welcomes President Trump’s demands.”
He added: “In light of Hamas’ announcement on its decision to violate the agreement and not release hostages, last night we instructed the IDF (Israel Defence Force) to accumulate troops within and around the Gaza Strip.
“This action will run at this time and complete immediately.”
He then issued an ultimatum saying there was unanimous approval for the security cabinet.
“If Hamas does not return hostages by midday on Saturday, the ceasefire will allow the IDF to resume fierce battles until Hamas’ final defeat.”
There was a contradictory message from Israeli officials about whether Netanyahu should release all the remaining hostages.
A source told Israeli newspaper Haaretz that he would be willing to continue the ceasefire if the next group of three hostages is released as planned on Saturday.
However, afterwards, the Minister of Transport and War Cabinet member Miri Regev wrote about X:
Meanwhile, the IDF said it has raised the level of preparation for the Southern Command, which will be responsible for operations in Gaza, and will be strengthened with additional troops, including reserves.
EPAHamas on Tuesday took over post-war Gaza and 2 million Palestinians to allow the US to turn it into the “Middle Eastern Riviera” to permanently relocate the 2 million Palestinians living there. He rejected Trump’s controversial plan to relocate people forever.
Hamas said Trump’s remarks “a racist and constitute a call for ethnic cleansing aimed at liquidating the Palestinian cause and denying the inviolable national rights of the people.” .
Palestinian authority and Arab countries also defied the plan, but the UN warned that international law and forced evacuation “compared to ethnic cleansing” would be banned.
Netanyahu praised the president’s “revolutionary vision” for Gaza.
Earlier on Tuesday, Hamas senior Basemnaim told the BBC that the doors were open for Qatar-Egyptian intervening to get the ceasefire contract back on track.
“We don’t want this deal to collapse,” he said. “We are doing our utmost to avoid obstacles and challenges. So, if the situation is revised through the mediator, we are ready to hand over the prisoners next Saturday.”
He accused Israel of “continuing violations” of the ceasefire contract. For example, it delayed the return of displaced people to areas in northern Gaza for 48-72 hours, blocking delivery of urgently needed food, medical and shelter supplies.
ReutersThe first phase of the ceasefire contract is expected to last six weeks, with a total of 33 Israeli hostages being exchanged for around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and Gaza detainees.
So far, 16 living hostages have been released since the ceasefire came into effect on January 19th. Hamas also handed over five Thai hostages outside the terms of the transaction.
The remaining 17 Israeli hostages – two children, one woman, five men over 50, and nine men under 50 are due to be released in the next three weeks . Both sides say eight of those hostages are dead, but only one name.
The deal led Israeli forces to withdraw from Gaza’s densely populated areas, with hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians returning to their homes north and hundreds of trucks of aid entering the territory every day.
Israeli forces launched a campaign on October 7, 2023 to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack. Around 1,200 people were killed there and 251 were taken hostages.
Since then, more than 48,210 people have been killed in Gaza.
The majority of Gaza’s population is difficult to avoid, with nearly 70% of buildings being damaged or destroyed, medical, water, sanitation and sanitation systems being disrupted, and there is a shortage of food, fuel, medicines and shelter.
