Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that the ceasefire in Gaza will end, and military operations will resume if Hamas fails to release hostages by Saturday.
Netanyahu said he had ordered Israeli forces to mobilize inside and around Gaza after Hamas announced it was postponing further hostage releases. He did not specify whether he was demanding the release of all 76 remaining hostages or just the three expected to be freed on Saturday. However, Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev later stated that “everyone” must be released.
Hamas responded, saying it remains committed to the ceasefire and accused Israel of violating the agreement, including blocking humanitarian aid—claims Israel denies.
The standoff follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement urging Israel to cancel the ceasefire unless Hamas releases all hostages by Saturday. Netanyahu welcomed Trump’s demand, stating, “If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF will resume intense fighting until Hamas is defeated.”
Israeli officials have issued conflicting statements regarding the ultimatum, with one source telling Haaretz that releasing the next three hostages as planned on Saturday could keep the ceasefire intact.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced it has raised readiness levels in Gaza’s Southern Command and reinforced troops, including reservists.
Meanwhile, Hamas rejected Trump’s proposal to permanently relocate Gaza’s 2 million residents and rebuild the territory as the “Riviera of the Middle East.” The group called the remarks “racist” and an “attempt at ethnic cleansing.” The Palestinian Authority and Arab nations have also opposed the plan, while the UN warned forced displacement would violate international law.
Despite the rising tensions, Hamas official Basem Naim said mediators from the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt could still salvage the ceasefire. “We don’t want this deal to collapse,” Naim said, adding that Hamas was prepared to release more hostages if issues with Israel were resolved.
Under the current ceasefire, which began on January 19, Hamas has freed 16 Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals. In exchange, Israel has released Palestinian prisoners, withdrawn troops from densely populated areas, and allowed aid deliveries. The agreement is expected to last six weeks, with further hostage-prisoner exchanges planned.
The war began after Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages taken. More than 48,210 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The conflict has displaced most of Gaza’s population, severely damaged infrastructure, and led to shortages of essential supplies.
With the ceasefire in jeopardy, the situation remains volatile as both sides prepare for possible renewed fighting.
