Israel Issues Threat to Gaza Ceasefire
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given Hamas an ultimatum, insisting on the release of Israeli hostages by noon on Saturday. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a firm ultimatum to Hamas, demanding the release of Israeli hostages by noon on Saturday, warning that failure to do so will lead Israel to end its current ceasefire and resume “intense” military operations in Gaza.
In recent weeks, Hamas has released 21 captives as part of exchanges involving hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli facilities. However, on Monday, the group announced it would halt further exchanges, accusing Israel of breaching the agreement by preventing displaced Palestinians from returning to northern Gaza, restricting humanitarian aid deliveries, and delaying negotiations concerning the next phase of the ceasefire.
Netanyahu’s statement came after a four-hour Security Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, during which he and his ministers reached a unanimous decision to resume full-scale warfare in Gaza if Hamas does not meet the deadline.
“In light of Hamas’s announcement regarding its decision to violate the agreement and not release our hostages, last night I instructed the IDF to amass forces inside and surrounding the Gaza Strip,” Netanyahu explained.
He added, “If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF will resume intense fighting until the final defeat of Hamas.” However, he did not clarify whether he anticipated the release of all hostages or just the three scheduled for the impending exchange on Saturday.
The ultimatum parallels a demand made by President Donald Trump on Monday. Trump warned that unless all hostages are released by Saturday, “all bets are off” and “all hell is going to break out” in Gaza.
During a previous meeting with Netanyahu, Trump proposed the idea of the US taking control of the Palestinian enclave, suggesting it could be developed into “the Riviera of the Middle East.” Under this plan, he implied relocating Palestinians from Gaza—devastated after 15 months of conflict with Israel—to neighboring countries like Jordan and Egypt.
After meeting with Trump on Tuesday, Jordan’s King Abdullah II reaffirmed his strong opposition to any forced displacement of Palestinians, emphasizing it as a “unified Arab position.” He stated, “Rebuilding Gaza without displacing the Palestinians and addressing the dire humanitarian situation should be the priority for all.”
Israel initiated military operations in Gaza following a Hamas cross-border attack that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages in October 2023. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, around 47,500 Palestinians have died and over 111,500 have been injured as a result of the retaliatory strikes. UN data reports that 90% of Gaza’s population has been internally displaced due to the ongoing conflict.
Bassem Naim, head of Hamas’ political branch, remarked that forcibly relocating Palestinians would be tantamount to “ethnic cleansing” and a “crime against humanity,” in an interview with RTN on Friday.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
In recent weeks, Hamas has released 21 captives as part of exchanges involving hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli facilities. However, on Monday, the group announced it would halt further exchanges, accusing Israel of breaching the agreement by preventing displaced Palestinians from returning to northern Gaza, restricting humanitarian aid deliveries, and delaying negotiations concerning the next phase of the ceasefire.
Netanyahu’s statement came after a four-hour Security Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, during which he and his ministers reached a unanimous decision to resume full-scale warfare in Gaza if Hamas does not meet the deadline.
“In light of Hamas’s announcement regarding its decision to violate the agreement and not release our hostages, last night I instructed the IDF to amass forces inside and surrounding the Gaza Strip,” Netanyahu explained.
He added, “If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF will resume intense fighting until the final defeat of Hamas.” However, he did not clarify whether he anticipated the release of all hostages or just the three scheduled for the impending exchange on Saturday.
The ultimatum parallels a demand made by President Donald Trump on Monday. Trump warned that unless all hostages are released by Saturday, “all bets are off” and “all hell is going to break out” in Gaza.
During a previous meeting with Netanyahu, Trump proposed the idea of the US taking control of the Palestinian enclave, suggesting it could be developed into “the Riviera of the Middle East.” Under this plan, he implied relocating Palestinians from Gaza—devastated after 15 months of conflict with Israel—to neighboring countries like Jordan and Egypt.
After meeting with Trump on Tuesday, Jordan’s King Abdullah II reaffirmed his strong opposition to any forced displacement of Palestinians, emphasizing it as a “unified Arab position.” He stated, “Rebuilding Gaza without displacing the Palestinians and addressing the dire humanitarian situation should be the priority for all.”
Israel initiated military operations in Gaza following a Hamas cross-border attack that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages in October 2023. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, around 47,500 Palestinians have died and over 111,500 have been injured as a result of the retaliatory strikes. UN data reports that 90% of Gaza’s population has been internally displaced due to the ongoing conflict.
Bassem Naim, head of Hamas’ political branch, remarked that forcibly relocating Palestinians would be tantamount to “ethnic cleansing” and a “crime against humanity,” in an interview with RTN on Friday.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
