JERUSALEM — On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a warning about potentially withdrawing from the ceasefire in Gaza. He instructed the military to prepare for renewed combat against Hamas if the militant organization does not proceed with releasing additional hostages as scheduled on Saturday.
Hamas announced on Monday, and reiterated on Tuesday, its intention to postpone the release of three hostages. The group has accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire terms, particularly by not permitting a predetermined quantity of tents and other humanitarian aid into Gaza.
In light of these escalating tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed strong support for Israel, urging for the release of a greater number of the remaining hostages on Saturday. Following a meeting at the White House with King Abdullah II of Jordan, Trump predicted that Hamas would not fulfill its obligation to release all remaining hostages as he requested.
“I doubt they will meet the deadline,” Trump remarked about Hamas. “They prefer to act tough; we’ll see how tough they really are.” Since the ceasefire’s implementation, Hamas has managed to release 21 hostages through five exchanges, in return for over 730 Palestinian prisoners. The second segment of the ceasefire plan involves the release of all remaining hostages and a potential indefinite extension of the truce. Nonetheless, Trump’s statements regarding the hostage situation and the future of Gaza have created instability within the ceasefire’s tenuous framework.
It remains unclear if Netanyahu’s ultimatum pertains solely to the three hostages expected to be freed on Saturday or encompasses all remaining captives. This would signify a significant shift from the established ceasefire agreements. Netanyahu’s office reacted positively to Trump’s demands.
While Trump reiterated his position to reporters in Washington, an Israeli official, speaking anonymously about a confidential meeting, indicated that Israel was committed to Trump’s request regarding the hostages, suggesting they would all be released on Saturday.
Furthermore, Netanyahu’s office indicated that it has directed the military to mobilize troops around Gaza, readying for various potential scenarios.
Trump has suggested that Israel should end the ceasefire entirely if around 70 hostages are not released by Saturday. However, Hamas dismissed his threats, restating that it would only proceed with hostage releases if all sides adhered to the ceasefire.
“Trump should remember that there is a mutual agreement that must be honored. This is the only means to secure the return of prisoners,” declared Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman. “Threatening remarks carry no weight; they only exacerbate the current issues.”
Trump is simultaneously pressuring Jordan to accept refugees from Gaza, potentially on a permanent basis, as part of his ambitious strategy to reshape the Middle East.
“We’re not here to negotiate; we intend to take control,” Trump asserted regarding U.S. involvement in Gaza, with the Jordanian king present.
When asked about Trump’s vision for the Middle East, Abdullah II refrained from providing concrete responses and did not address the proposition of Jordan receiving a significant influx of refugees from Gaza, where millions of Palestinians already reside.
The comments made by Trump regarding the potential expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza and their lack of a right to return have sparked outrage among Palestinians and drawn criticism from the international community.
During the initial phase of the ceasefire, Hamas agreed to release 33 hostages taken during its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, while Israel committed to freeing around 2,000 Palestinian detainees. The two sides have engaged in five prisoner exchanges since January 19.
If a consensus is not achieved regarding the more intricate second phase of the ceasefire, hostilities could restart as early as March. Should that occur, Israel would encounter a significantly altered battlefield, as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were initially displaced to southern Gaza. As conditions evolved, Israel allowed many of these individuals to return to what remains of their homes, complicating military operations in the region.
