Netanyahu warns that the Gaza conflict will resume if hostages are not released by Saturday

On Tuesday, Israel threatened to resume "intense fighting" in Gaza if hostages were not released by the weekend. Hamas, however, insisted that it was still committed to the ceasefire and accused Israel of breaching the agreement.

The truce, which had paused more than 15 months of fighting, involved releasing hostages in batches in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. So far, five exchanges have been completed, but the deal is under increasing strain. Diplomatic efforts are underway to prevent its collapse, with Hamas stating that it remains "committed to the ceasefire."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that if Hamas does not return the hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire would end and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) would resume intense fighting until Hamas is "decisively defeated."

This threat mirrored remarks from US President Donald Trump, who on Monday warned that "hell" would break loose if Hamas failed to release all Israeli hostages by Saturday. He proposed taking control of Gaza and removing its two million residents.

Trump reiterated his position while meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II, who reaffirmed Jordan's opposition to the displacement of Palestinians.

A senior Hamas leader, Sami Abu Zuhri, criticized Trump's comments, stating that there is an agreement that both parties must honor.

Hamas also delayed the next hostage release, accusing Israel of violations. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Hamas to honor the release and prevent a resumption of hostilities. Meanwhile, Yemen's Huthi rebels, who support Hamas, warned they were prepared to intervene if Gaza faced further escalation.

Netanyahu did not specify whether his deadline applied to all captives, but Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for a complete occupation of Gaza if the hostages were not returned by Saturday. Smotrich also demanded the cessation of all humanitarian aid.

In Gaza, residents expressed concerns over the situation, with one local praying that the ceasefire would hold, despite tensions on both sides.

Trump's latest remarks came shortly after Hamas's military wing announced it would delay the next hostage release, citing Israel's failure to meet its commitments. Despite this, Hamas left the door open for the release if Israel complies with the agreement.

The conflict, sparked by Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, has caused widespread casualties, with over 48,000 people reported dead in Gaza, and the UN estimates it will cost over $53 billion to rebuild the territory and address the humanitarian crisis.