Netanyahu warns of renewed Gaza offensive if hostages are not released by Saturday

JERUSALEM. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a stark warning that Israel will resume military operations in Gaza if Hamas fails to release additional hostages by Saturday. He has instructed the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to prepare for potential renewed combat operations.

The warning comes amid heightened tensions over the implementation of the current ceasefire. Hamas announced on Monday—and reiterated on Tuesday—that it intends to delay the release of three hostages, accusing Israel of failing to fulfill its commitments, including the allowance of an agreed-upon quantity of humanitarian aid, such as tents and other supplies, into Gaza.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, following a meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the White House on Tuesday, voiced skepticism about Hamas’s willingness to comply with the release agreement.

“I don’t think they’re going to make the deadline, personally,” Trump stated. “They want to play tough guy. We’ll see how tough they are.”

Since the ceasefire commenced, Hamas has released 21 hostages in five exchanges in return for over 730 Palestinian prisoners. The agreement outlines a second phase requiring the release of all remaining hostages and an indefinite extension of the truce. However, Trump’s remarks about the situation have further complicated the already fragile ceasefire negotiations.

It remains unclear whether Netanyahu’s ultimatum applies solely to the three hostages scheduled for release on Saturday or to all remaining captives. His office issued a statement confirming, “The Prime Minister welcomes President Trump’s demand.”

An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed that Israel is aligning its stance with Trump’s expectations regarding the hostages. “We are sticking to President Trump’s announcement regarding the release of the hostages. Namely, that they will all be released on Saturday.”

Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s office has ordered Israeli forces to mobilize near the Gaza Strip in preparation for any potential military action.

Trump has urged Israel to abandon the ceasefire entirely if Hamas does not release all of the estimated 70 remaining hostages by Saturday. However, Hamas rejected this demand, reiterating its claim that Israel has violated the ceasefire terms.

“Hamas must remember there is an agreement that must be respected by both parties. This is the only way to bring back prisoners,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said. “The language of threats has no value; it only complicates matters.”

Hamas further condemned Trump’s remarks at the White House, characterizing them as a “call for ethnic cleansing” and accusing him of attempting to “eliminate the Palestinian cause and deny the national rights of the Palestinian people.”

While Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire in an official statement, it did not clarify its stance on the suspension of scheduled hostage releases.

Trump’s meeting with King Abdullah II in Washington was accompanied by mounting pressure on Jordan to accept Palestinian refugees from Gaza, potentially permanently, as part of what Trump has described as a broader effort to reshape the Middle East.

“We’re not going to buy anything. We’re going to have it,” Trump said regarding U.S. control of Gaza, as King Abdullah stood beside him.

The Jordanian king did not make substantive comments on Trump’s vision for the region or on the possibility of taking in displaced Palestinians. However, he did express Jordan’s willingness to accept up to 2,000 sick children from Gaza in urgent need of medical treatment.

Last week, the World Health Organization reported that between 12,000 and 14,000 patients in Gaza require medical evacuation, including 5,000 children.

Palestinians and the international community have reacted with anger to Trump’s recent statements suggesting that Palestinians forcibly expelled from Gaza would not have a right to return.

Under the initial phase of the ceasefire, Hamas had committed to releasing 33 hostages taken during its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. In exchange, Israel pledged to release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Five prisoner exchanges have taken place since January 19.

If no agreement is reached regarding the second phase of the ceasefire, the war could resume as early as March. However, Israel may face a more complex battlefield than before. Having initially displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to southern Gaza, Israel has since allowed many to return to the ruins of their homes, potentially complicating further military operations in the region.

The situation remains volatile, with the coming days likely to determine whether the ceasefire holds or military conflict resumes.