Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a dramatic ultimatum to Hamas: Release the remaining hostages in the cease-fire deal by noon Saturday, or the war in Gaza begins again.
After Hamas ordered a halt on the hostage exchanges Monday with claims that Israeli has of violated the cease-fire agreement, Netanyahu said “intense fighting” will break out unless nine hostages are freed in the coming days.
“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 finally defeated,” the premier said in a statement.
Netanyahu’s statement came after a cabinet meeting in which Israeli officials discussed Hamas’ allegations and the terror group’s refusal ot release the nine remaining hostages who are part of the first phase of the cease-fire deal.
“Hamas violated the agreement,” one Israeli official told the Times of Israel, “and therefore there will not be progress in continuing carrying out the agreement or in negotiations on the second stage without the return of our hostages.”
The Israeli deadline matched the one given by President Trump, who warned that he would “let hell break out” if Hamas did not release the hostages.
