Israel has threatened to initiate a “new war” against Hamas and implement U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to relocate Palestinians from Gaza if militants from the U.S.- and EU-designated terrorist group do not release hostages by this weekend.
The remarks by Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, came immediately after the Palestinian group Hamas stated it would not yield to “threats” from the U.S. and Israel to release the hostages as part of a fragile ceasefire agreement.
Mediators Qatar and Egypt are trying to save the ceasefire agreement, which went into effect last month, according to a Palestinian source and a diplomat familiar with the talks, reports AFP. Hamas said its chief negotiator was in Cairo.
The ceasefire has stopped most of the fighting that lasted more than 15 months and allowed Israeli hostages to be freed in small groups in exchange for Palestinians held by Israel.
However, the agreement, currently in its first 42-day phase, is under increasing pressure. The warring parties, which have not yet agreed on the next stages of the ceasefire, have exchanged accusations of violations, raising concerns that violence may resume.
Katz stated that Israel would resume fighting if Hamas does not release the hostages by Saturday, when the sixth exchange of hostages and prisoners was scheduled according to the terms of the agreement.
