Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Tuesday that Israel would withdraw from the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and resume the war against Hamas if the group, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the US and EU, does not release the next group of hostages by Saturday.
Hamas stated on Monday and repeated on Tuesday that it intends to delay the release of three more hostages, accusing Israel of not fulfilling the ceasefire conditions.
According to Hamas, Israel has not allowed the entry of additional tents and humanitarian aid into Gaza.
US President Donald Trump has encouraged Israel to demand the release of more hostages by Saturday. However, it is unclear if Netanyahu’s threat referred to all remaining hostages in Gaza or only the three planned for release on Saturday.
Earlier on Tuesday, an Israeli official said Netanyahu had ordered the army to send more troops into and around the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu also instructed officials “to prepare for any scenario if Hamas does not release our hostages this Saturday,” according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, as reported by the Associated Press.
So far, Hamas has released 21 hostages in a series of exchanges for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Trump has stated that Israel should cancel the ceasefire entirely if all 70 remaining hostages are not freed by Saturday. Hamas rejected his threat on Tuesday, reinforcing its claim that Israel has violated the ceasefire and warned it would continue releasing hostages only if all parties adhere to the ceasefire.
During the first six-week phase of the ceasefire, Hamas promised to release 33 hostages captured during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, while Israel said it would release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The parties have conducted five exchanges since January 19.
War could resume in early March if no agreement is reached for the second and more complicated phase of the ceasefire, which requires the return of all remaining hostages and an indefinite extension of the ceasefire.
However, if Israel resumes the war, it will face a completely different battlefield.
After forcing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to move to the south of Gaza at the beginning of the war, Israel allowed many of these displaced people to return to what remains of their homes, presenting a new challenge for its ability to move ground troops through the dense territory.
