In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern ultimatum on Tuesday. He warned that if the militant group Hamas fails to proceed with the next scheduled release of hostages on Saturday, Israel will withdraw from the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and resume its conflict with Hamas.
Hamas, on Monday and again on Tuesday, announced its intention to delay the release of three more hostages. They accused Israel of breaching the terms of the ceasefire by not providing adequate supplies like tents and aid to Gaza. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump has supported Israel’s call for the release of additional hostages on Saturday.
It remains unclear whether Netanyahu’s threat pertains to the release of all remaining hostages in Gaza or solely the three individuals slated for release on Saturday. Earlier on Tuesday, an Israeli official disclosed that Netanyahu had instructed the army to deploy more troops in and around the Gaza Strip. Additionally, preparations are being made for various scenarios in case Hamas does not comply with the scheduled release of hostages this Saturday.
Israel had indicated its intentions to strengthen defenses along the Gaza border on Monday. This decision came after a lengthy meeting between Netanyahu and his Security Cabinet, focusing on Hamas’s actions potentially jeopardizing the three-week-old ceasefire. Thus far, Hamas has released 21 hostages through a series of exchanges involving hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
President Trump’s assertion that Israel should cancel the ceasefire if all approximately 70 hostages are not freed by Saturday was dismissed by Hamas on Tuesday. Hamas reiterated its stance that Israel has violated the ceasefire and insisted that the release of hostages will continue only if all parties adhere to the ceasefire terms.
President Trump, while hosting Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the White House, is increasing pressure on Jordan to accept refugees from Gaza, potentially permanently. This is part of his bold strategy to reshape the Middle East. Recent comments by Trump suggesting that expelled Palestinians from Gaza would not have a right to return have sparked discontent among Palestinians and the international community.
The first phase of the ceasefire obligated Hamas to release 33 hostages captured during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Israel, in return, committed to releasing nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. To date, five exchanges have taken place since January 19.
If no agreement is reached on the more complex second phase of the ceasefire, which calls for the release of all remaining hostages and an indefinite extension of the truce, the war could resume in early March. Israel would face a significantly altered battleground if conflict were to resume, especially considering the challenge posed by displaced Palestinians returning to their homes in southern Gaza following the initial stages of the war.
