Netanyahu says Israel will end Gaza ceasefire if hostages not returned on Saturday

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday that the ceasefire in Gaza would conclude and the military would restart operations against Hamas until its defeat if the Palestinian militant group failed to free hostages by noon Saturday. After Netanyahu’s ultimatum, Hamas released a statement reaffirming its dedication to the ceasefire and blaming Israel for endangering the ceasefire. The Israeli statement followed Netanyahu’s discussions with important ministers, including those from defence, foreign affairs, and national security, who he claimed fully backed the ultimatum.

Following almost 16 months of conflict, Hamas has slowly started to release hostages since the initial phase of a ceasefire commenced on January 19. However, on Monday, they announced they would not release any additional hostages until further notice due to claims that Israel was breaching the agreement. “Netanyahu stated that if Hamas does not release our hostages by Saturday at noon, the ceasefire will conclude, and the IDF (military) will resume fierce combat until Hamas is ultimately vanquished.”

It was not initially evident whether Netanyahu intended for Hamas to free all hostages in Gaza or merely the three anticipated to be released on Saturday as part of the ceasefire. His office did not promptly reply to a Reuters inquiry asking for a comment on the prime minister’s statements. U.S. President Donald Trump, a strong supporter of Israel, stated that Hamas must free all of the hostages by Saturday.

The prime minister also mentioned that a Hamas representative previously stated that Israeli hostages could only be returned if the ceasefire was upheld, rejecting the “language of threats” after Trump claimed he would “let hell break loose” if they were not released. He had instructed the military to assemble troops inside and surrounding Gaza, with the military shortly afterward declaring it was sending extra forces to Israel’s south, including the activation of reservists.