Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that Israel will resume military operations in Gaza if Hamas does not release hostages by noon on Saturday, according to the New York Post. This ultimatum follows Hamas’ announcement of a delay in hostage exchanges after they claimed that Israel has violated the ceasefire agreement, but experts say Hamas’ move is only to get more concessions out of Israel.
Netanyahu stated that if Hamas fails to comply, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) will “resume vigorous combat until Hamas is ultimately vanquished.” He has ordered the military to prepare for potential scenarios, reinforcing troops around Gaza.
Netanyahu’s stance matches that of President Donald Trump, threatening severe consequences if hostages are not released by the Saturday deadline.
“The Israeli deadline matched the one given by Trump, who warned that he would ‘let hell break out’ if Hamas did not release the hostages,” The Post reports.
“I’d say they ought to be returned by 12 o’clock on Saturday,” Trump said. “And if they’re not returned — all of them, not in dribs and drabs, not two and one and three and four and two – by Saturday at 12 o’clock. And after that, I would say, all hell is going to break out.”
The final decision will be left up to Israel, Trump noted.
Hamas has addressed Trump as senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters, “Trump must remember that there is an agreement that must be respected by both parties, and this is the only way to bring back the (Israeli) prisoners. The language of threats has no value and only complicates matters.”
Richard Goldberg, a senior advisor at the FDD and former White House National Security Council staffer, warned that the disruption to the ceasefire could see fighting resume. Trump does not need to send troops to Gaza to punish the terror group, Goldberg said.
“Just on Hamas, [Trump could] go after their assets that we have not gone after in the region that might be held in Qatar or Turkey or other places in the Middle East; give authorization to go hunt down Hamas leaders wherever they live, whether it’s in Gaza or not in Gaza and support Israel in doing that,” Goldberg said, adding that “just because Hamas leaders today enjoy safe harbor in Qatar doesn’t mean they would enjoy safe harbor and Qatar tomorrow.”
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