Just three weeks into a shaky ceasefire, tensions are skyrocketing between Israel and Hamas. The hostage exchange deal is now in jeopardy after Hamas accused Israel of violating the agreement and announced it would delay Saturday’s scheduled release “until further notice.”
So far, Hamas has freed 16 of the 33 hostages expected in this phase, while Israel has released 656 Palestinian prisoners from a nearly 2,000-person list. But now, the entire process is at risk of collapse.
Netanyahu Threatens to End Ceasefire
Israel is firing back, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning that the ceasefire will end if Hamas doesn’t release the hostages by the deadline.
“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 completely defeated,” Netanyahu declared in a video statement late Tuesday.
Hamas Accuses Israel of Breaking the Deal
Hamas claims Israel has been violating the truce by targeting Palestinians, blocking aid, and delaying the return of displaced people to northern Gaza. The group also says Israel has held up vital medical supplies and other essential goods from entering the war-torn enclave.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that 92 people have been killed in Israeli operations since the ceasefire began, further fueling Hamas’ accusations. Meanwhile, a diplomat familiar with the negotiations said the UN and other countries had sought approval to send temporary shelters to Gaza, but Israel allegedly refused.
Israel Calls Hamas Delay a ‘Complete Violation’
Israeli officials are outraged by Hamas’ postponement, calling it a blatant breach of the ceasefire terms. Defense Minister Israel Katz said the delay was a “complete violation” and ordered the military to prepare for all possible scenarios.
The Israeli army has already increased security in southern Israel, warning that it is ready for an escalation. Adding to the tension, Israeli forces recently opened fire near Gaza City, killing three Palestinians.
Trump Demands All Hostages or ‘All Hell Breaks Loose’
President Donald Trump has entered the fray, making it clear he won’t tolerate Hamas’ slow-walked hostage releases.
“If all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock, I would say, cancel it and all bets are off—let hell break out,” Trump declared from the Oval Office.
Trump also criticized the phased release approach, demanding that all hostages be freed at once. Pressed on what he meant by “all hell breaking loose,” he simply said, “You’ll find out, and they’ll find out—Hamas will find out.”
Will the Ceasefire Hold?
With just weeks left in the first phase of the deal, the future of the truce remains uncertain.
Israel has released only about a third of the agreed-upon Palestinian prisoners, and efforts to discuss the next phases have barely begun. Netanyahu’s delay in sending negotiators to Qatar has sparked speculation that he’s simply running out the clock until March 1, when phase one is set to expire.
Meanwhile, key figures in Netanyahu’s coalition, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, are pushing for a return to full-scale war. If the hostage releases don’t resume, that outcome may come sooner rather than later.
