Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to end the ceasefire and resume the war in Gaza if Hamas does not release its hostages on Saturday.
Netanyahu posted on X on Tuesday, threatening a “return to intense fighting until Hamas is finally defeated”.
אם חמאס לא יחזיר את חטופינו עד שבת בצהריים – הפסקת האש תיפסק, וצה"ל יחזור ללחימה עצימה עד להכרעה סופית של החמאס pic.twitter.com/4Cx30kHGvN
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) February 11, 2025
His comments come as Hamas threatened to delay Saturday’s planned hostage release “until further notice,” accusing Israel of breaking the agreement.
It is unclear if Netanyahu’s order referred to the release of all remaining hostages in Gaza, or just the three scheduled for release on Saturday.
Netanyahu has reportedly also ordered the army to add more troops in and around Gaza.
Meanwhile, after meeting Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the White House on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said he did not expect Hamas to release all the hostages as he had demanded.
“I don’t think they’re (Hamas) going to make the deadline, personally,” the president said.
“They want to play tough guy. We’ll see how tough they are.”
Tensions over the Gaza ceasefire have escalated as Trump doubled down on his plan for the US to take control of and rebuild the Strip.
In an interview this weekend, he explicitly said that Palestinians would not have the right to return under his proposals.
The 78-year-old president also previously suggested he could withhold foreign aid from Jordan and Egypt if they refuse to take in forcibly displaced Palestinians.
During his meeting with Trump, King Abdullah said Arab nations would not announce any decision on accepting Palestinian refugees until their leaders had met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh.
Trump reiterated that the US would take over Gaza – but refused to specify how – during his Oval Office meeting.
It comes after Trump’s warning on Monday that “all hell is going to break out” if Hamas does not release all remaining Israeli hostages, escalating tensions further.
“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, cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out,” Trump said.
When asked by reporters what he meant by “all hell,” Trump said: “You’ll find out, and they’ll find out – Hamas will find out what I mean.”
Hamas brushed off Trump’s threat, reiterating that dozens of hostages would only be released if all parties remained committed to the ceasefire agreement.
