Netanyahu warns ceasefire will end if Hamas does not release hostages

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu sets Saturday deadline as tensions rise over Gaza ceasefire.

A Palestinian man carries a water container as he walks toward his shelter, set up amidst the rubble of his house, on a rainy day, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, on February 11, 2025. Photo by Mahmoud Issa/Reuters

By Clarisa Sendy and Adelina Indah

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stark warning on Tuesday, declaring that if Hamas does not release Israeli hostages by noon on Saturday, the fragile ceasefire in Gaza will end. He stated that the Israeli military would resume its offensive until Hamas is defeated, further escalating tensions in the conflict-ridden region.

"In light of Hamas' announcement of its decision to violate the agreement and not release our hostages, last night I ordered the IDF to gather forces inside and around the Gaza Strip," Netanyahu said after a security cabinet meeting. "This operation is being carried out at this time. It will be completed in the very near future."

Hamas halts hostage releases amid ceasefire disputes

Hamas has been gradually releasing Israeli hostages under the ceasefire agreement brokered last month. However, on Monday, the militant group announced it would stop further releases, accusing Israel of violating the terms of the agreement by carrying out deadly shootings and delaying humanitarian aid deliveries.

The ceasefire, which began on January 19, was initially seen as a crucial step toward de-escalation. However, ongoing disputes over compliance have put it at risk, with both sides trading accusations.

Trump backs Israel, threatens to end ceasefire

U.S. President Donald Trump, a close ally of Israel, echoed Netanyahu’s ultimatum, calling for the immediate release of all hostages. He warned that if Hamas did not comply by Saturday noon, he would propose canceling the ceasefire.

"If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF will return to intense fighting until Hamas is finally defeated," Netanyahu said.

A Hamas official dismissed Trump’s warning, rejecting what he described as a "language of threats." Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas leader, insisted that hostages could only be returned if Israel respected the ceasefire agreement. "Trump must remember there is an agreement that must be respected by both parties," he told Reuters.

Israel denies blocking aid, vows to recover hostages

Israel has denied Hamas’ accusations of ceasefire violations, insisting it has not delayed aid deliveries and only targeted individuals who disregarded warnings near Israeli troop positions. Netanyahu vowed that Israel would continue its efforts to ensure the safe return of hostages.

"We will continue to take determined and ruthless action until we return all of our hostages—the living and the deceased," Netanyahu said, following the military’s confirmation of another Israeli fatality from the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack that triggered the war.

An Israeli official, speaking anonymously, revealed that Netanyahu met with the security cabinet for nearly four hours on Tuesday to discuss the situation.

Gaza’s humanitarian crisis worsens

Since the conflict erupted in October 2023, Gaza has suffered immense devastation. The densely populated enclave is facing severe shortages of food, water, and shelter, with billions of dollars in aid required to rebuild its shattered infrastructure.

The Gaza health ministry reports that more than 48,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, and nearly all of the 2.3 million residents have been displaced. The ongoing crisis has intensified calls for a lasting peace agreement, but the growing tensions between Israel and Hamas threaten any such prospects.

Trump’s Gaza proposal sparks controversy

Trump’s handling of the Gaza conflict has drawn sharp criticism from Palestinians and Arab leaders. His proposal to redevelop Gaza by forcibly relocating its residents has been widely condemned, with critics accusing him of disregarding international law.

Trump has suggested that the United States should take control of Gaza, remove its 2 million Palestinian residents, and transform the war-torn enclave into what he calls the "Riviera of the Middle East." His plan has upended decades of U.S. policy, which had previously supported a two-state solution.

International legal experts warn that forced displacement under military occupation is a violation of the 1949 Geneva Conventions. Palestinians fear a repeat of the Nakba, the mass displacement that occurred during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.

Jordan opposes Trump’s resettlement idea

Trump’s statements have also alarmed Jordan, which has long opposed any efforts to force Palestinians out of Gaza or the West Bank. King Abdullah, who met with Trump on Tuesday, has warned that resettling Palestinians in Jordan could destabilize the country and undermine hopes for a Palestinian state.

For Jordan, Trump's comments raise fears of a mass expulsion of Palestinians, echoing past proposals from far-right Israeli nationalists. The situation is further complicated by rising violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where Palestinian aspirations for statehood are being threatened by expanding Jewish settlements.

UN calls for ceasefire extension

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued an urgent appeal on Tuesday, calling for an extension of the ceasefire. "A resumption of armed conflict should be avoided at all costs," he wrote on X. "This would lead to immense tragedy."

As the Saturday deadline approaches, the future of the ceasefire remains uncertain. If Hamas does not release the hostages, Netanyahu appears ready to escalate military operations. Meanwhile, Trump’s controversial proposals and threats of aid cuts to Jordan add further complications to an already volatile situation.

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