JERUSALEM, Israel – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that the fragile ceasefire in Gaza will collapse unless Hamas releases more hostages by Saturday noon (10:00 GMT).
His ultimatum follows the Palestinian group’s decision to postpone further releases, triggering heightened tensions in the ongoing conflict.
“In light of Hamas’s announcement regarding its decision to violate the agreement and not release our hostages, last night I instructed the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] to amass forces inside and around the Gaza Strip,” Netanyahu said in a video statement following a high-level security meeting. “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.”
Hamas, however, maintains that it is committed to the truce and has accused Israel of obstructing humanitarian aid deliveries—an allegation Israel denies.
The group’s decision to delay a planned release prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to call for the immediate return of all captives, suggesting that Israel should abandon the ceasefire if Hamas does not comply.
Netanyahu welcomed Trump’s stance, adding pressure on Hamas to act.
Uncertainty remains over whether Netanyahu’s ultimatum refers to all 76 remaining hostages or just the three scheduled for release on Saturday.
While one Israeli official indicated that freeing three captives could sustain the ceasefire, another, Transport Minister and war cabinet member Miri Regev, took a harder line.
“We made a very clear decision: We adhere to US President Donald Trump’s statement regarding the release of the hostages—on Saturday, everyone will be released,” she posted on X.
The IDF has since elevated the readiness of its Southern Command, mobilizing additional troops and reservists as preparations for a possible escalation continue.
The current ceasefire, in place since January 19, was initially brokered to last six weeks.
It involves the phased release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.
So far, Hamas has freed 16 Israeli hostages and five Thai nationals outside the terms of the deal.
The remaining 17 hostages, including two children, were expected to be released in phases, though eight have been confirmed dead.
The ceasefire has allowed Israeli forces to withdraw from heavily populated areas, enabling some displaced Palestinians to return to their homes in northern Gaza.
Hundreds of aid trucks have also been permitted entry daily. However, the humanitarian situation remains dire.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, more than 48,210 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict erupted on October 7, when Hamas launched a deadly cross-border attack that killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.
Most of Gaza’s population has been displaced multiple times, with nearly 70% of buildings damaged or destroyed.
The territory’s healthcare, water, and sanitation systems have collapsed, and critical shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies persist.
With the clock ticking toward Netanyahu’s Saturday deadline, the future of the ceasefire—and the fate of the hostages—hangs in the balance.
