Netanyahu Issues Ultimatum: Gaza Ceasefire To End If Hamas Fails To Release Hostages By Saturday

Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday announced that the Gaza ceasefire will end if Hamas does not release hostages by Saturday. Netanyahu's warning came up hours after US President Donald Trump warned Hamas to release all the hostages by Saturday. He warned that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) will resume the war in Gaza if Hamas does not release nine hostages by the deadline of noon Saturday.

He added that the Gaza ceasefire deal will fall apart unless all nine hostages in the first phase of the deal are freed in the coming days. In a post on X, Benjamin Netanyahu said, “If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF will return to intense fighting until Hamas is finally defeated."

“Hamas violated the agreement," an Israeli official stated adding that there will not be progress in continuing carrying out the agreement or in negotiations on the second stage without the return of our hostages.

An Israeli media quoted the official as saying, “The cabinet expects the release of all nine hostages of the first phase within days."