A day after President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to Hamas for the release of hostages, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on the Gaza-based terror group to free all Israeli captives by noon Saturday or face a renewed military operation in Gaza.
“If Hamas does not return our hostages by noon on Saturday, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF will resume intense fighting until Hamas is decisively defeated,” Prime Minister Netanyahu said following a cabinet meeting Tuesday.
The Israeli prime minister-led security cabinet decided unanimously to back President Trump’s ultimatum to Hamas that “all hell is going to break out” if the terrorist group did not release all hostages languishing in its captivity since October 7, 2023.
“The political-security cabinet met Tuesday for four hours for a discussion following Hamas’ announcement that it would “suspend the release of hostages,” and against the backdrop of U.S. President Donald Trump’s advice to resume fighting if “all the hostages” are not released by Saturday at noon,” the Israeli news website YNET reported.
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement later Tuesday evening on the Israeli position following developments in the negotiations on the deal and the fear that the current crisis will lead to its collapse,” YNET added.
Hamas continues to hold 73 Israeli hostages — including women, elderly, and children — half of whom are thought to have been murdered or tortured to death by their Palestinian captors.
The “ceasefire will be terminated and the IDF will return to intense fighting until Hamas is finally defeated,” Prime Minister Netanyahu said, speaking in Hebrew:
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) bolstered the country’s southern military commands and called up reservists following Hamas’ refusal to go ahead with the hostage deal.
“In accordance with the situational assessment and the decision to raise the level of readiness in the Southern Command, it was decided to increase reinforcements with additional troops, including reservists,” the IDF said in a press release Tuesday evening local time.
“The reinforcements of troops and mobilization of reservists are being carried out in preparation for various scenarios,” the IDF statement added.
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