Israel PM says Gaza ceasefire will end if Hamas does not free hostages | Global News Avenue

Israeli Prime Minister warned Hamas that if the Palestinian group “does not return to our hostages by Saturday noon”, the ceasefire in Gaza will end and the fierce battle will resume.

Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered Israeli troops to accumulate inside and around Gaza in response to Hamas’ announcement that it was postponing the release of more hostages until further notice.

Netanyahu didn’t say whether he asked for the release of all 76 hostages or the three hostages released this Saturday – but a minister said he meant “everyone.”

Hamas accused Israel of violating a three-week historic ceasefire agreement, including blocking vital humanitarian aid – a claim that Israel denied.

The group’s decision to postpone the scheduled release this weekend prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to propose that Israel cancel the deal altogether and “let hell erupt” unless it returns to “all hostages” on Saturday.

Netanyahu said in a video statement after a four-hour Israeli security cabinet meeting on Tuesday that he “welcomes President Trump’s request.”

He added: “In view of Hamas’s decision to violate the agreement rather than release our hostages, last night I directed the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) to accumulate internally and around the Gaza Strip.

“This action was taken this hour and will be completed soon.”

He then issued a final pass, saying he received unanimous approval from the Security Cabinet.

“If Hamas does not return to our hostages by noon Saturday, the ceasefire will end the Israel Defense Forces will resume fierce fighting until Hamas’ final defeat.”

However, Israeli officials have conflicting information about whether Netanyahu means Hamas should release all remaining hostages.

A source told Israeli newspaper Haaretz that he would continue the ceasefire if the next hostage is released.

But later, Transport Secretary and War Cabinet Member Miri Regev wrote on X: “We made a very clear decision: We comply with President Donald Trump’s statement on the release of hostages – on Saturday, everyone will be release!”

Following Netanyahu’s statement, Hamas said it was committed to a ceasefire agreement in Gaza but said Israel failed to “follow its commitments.”

Palestinian militant groups say Israel is “responsible for any complications or delays” during the hostage release.

The group reiterated its rejection of a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump to own Gaza, calling his remarks “racists” and said his plan to “exit” Palestinians from the Gaza Strip will not success.

Last week, Trump announced a controversial plan to demand that the United States take over post-war Gaza and permanently relocate the Palestinians living there so that they can be rebuilt and turned into a “Riviera of the Middle East.” Netanyahu praised the president’s “revolutionary vision.”

The Palestinian Authority, Hamas and Arab States explicitly rejected the proposal, while the United Nations warned that any forced displacement would be “involved in ethnic cleansing.”

Meanwhile, the IDF said it has increased the level of preparation for its southern command – responsible for operations in Gaza – and it will be strengthened by other forces, including reserve personnel.

Earlier on Tuesday, Hamas insisted that Katari and Egyptian mediators opened the door for us to step in and get the ceasefire deal back on track.

“We don’t want this deal to collapse,” Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official, told the BBC.

“We are doing everything we can to avoid any obstacles, any challenges, so if the situation is corrected by mediators, we are ready to hand over the prisoners next Saturday.”

He accused Israel of “continuous violations” of the ceasefire agreement, including returning displaced Palestinians to areas in northern Gaza between 48 and 72 hours and hindering the delivery of supplies.

The first phase of the ceasefire agreement should last for six weeks, with a total of 33 Israeli hostages swapping about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees from Gaza.

So far, 16 live hostages have been released since the ceasefire came into effect on January 19. In addition to the terms of the deal, Hamas also handed over five Thai hostages to the hostages.

The remaining 17 Israeli hostages – two children, one woman, five men over 50 and men under 50 – should be released within the next three weeks. Both sides said eight of the hostages died, but only one was named.

The agreement also saw Israeli forces withdraw from the densely populated Gaza region, with thousands of displaced Palestinians returning to their northern homes, allowing hundreds of aid trucks to enter the territory every day.

The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.

According to data from the HAMAS operational Ministry of Health in the region, 48,210 people above Gaza have since been killed in Gaza.

Most of Gaza’s population has also been displaced multiple times, with an estimated nearly 70% of buildings being damaged or damaged, health care, water, sanitation and sanitation systems already collapsed, and food, fuel, medicine and shelter shortages.