President Donald Trump has called for an end to Israel’s ceasefire with Hamas if all Israeli hostages are not released by Saturday at 12 p.m., warning of severe consequences.
“As far as I’m concerned, if all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock, I think it’s an appropriate time. I would say to cancel it, and all bets are off—let hell break out,” Trump said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a similar ultimatum on Tuesday, stating that if Hamas does not return the hostages by Saturday afternoon, Israel will resume full-scale military operations.
“The decision that I passed unanimously in the cabinet is this: If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday afternoon, the ceasefire will be terminated, and the IDF will return to intense fighting until Hamas is finally defeated,” Netanyahu said.
The ceasefire agreement has already come under strain, with Hamas accusing Israel of violating the truce through ongoing airstrikes. As a result, Hamas has postponed a scheduled prisoner and hostage exchange. A spokesperson for the group dismissed Trump’s threats, stating that hostages will only be released if Israel fulfills its obligations under the ceasefire agreement.
Trump’s remarks also add tension to his upcoming meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah, who has firmly rejected any proposals to resettle Palestinians from Gaza in Jordan. Last week, Trump suggested a plan to redevelop Gaza into a “Riviera” of the Middle East, a vision that has drawn mixed reactions.
Meanwhile, Trump has voiced concerns about the condition of released hostages, raising fears that some may have died in captivity due to malnutrition and poor health.
With the ceasefire already hanging by a thread, Trump’s ultimatum and Netanyahu’s warning add further uncertainty to the fragile truce.
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