JERUSALEM (AP) — On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning regarding the ongoing ceasefire in Gaza. Netanyahu threatened to pull out of the agreement, instructing troops to prepare for potential renewed conflict against Hamas if the militant group fails to release more hostages by Saturday.
Hamas has accused Israel of not meeting the ceasefire terms, particularly in regards to permitting an agreed-upon amount of tents and other aid into Gaza. As a result, Hamas announced a delay in releasing three additional hostages.
In Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his doubts about the ceasefire's stability after meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the White House. Trump voiced skepticism about Hamas fulfilling the requirement to release all remaining hostages by the deadline he demanded.
“I don’t think they’re going to make the deadline, personally,” Trump remarked, suggesting Hamas was attempting to present a strong front.
Since the ceasefire's initiation, Hamas has released 21 hostages through five exchanges, while Israel has freed over 730 Palestinian prisoners. The next phase of the ceasefire involves the return of all remaining hostages and an indefinite extension of the truce, yet Trump's comments on the releases and post-war Gaza plans have further destabilized the ceasefire's fragile framework.
There remains uncertainty whether Netanyahu's threat pertains to the specific three hostages slated for release or all remaining captives, marking a potential deviation from the ceasefire's terms. Netanyahu's office stated it “welcomed President Trump’s demand.”
An anonymous Israeli official confirmed Israel is adhering to Trump’s announcement regarding hostages, stating, “they will all be released on Saturday.” Additionally, Netanyahu has instructed military forces to mobilize around the Gaza Strip, preparing for any scenarios that may develop.
Trump suggested the cessation of the ceasefire if the roughly 70 hostages aren’t released by Saturday. However, Hamas dismissed this threat, reiterating their stance that Israel has breached the ceasefire and insisting on adherence to the agreement for continued hostage release.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri emphasized, “The language of threats has no value; it only complicates matters.” The group criticized Trump’s remarks, interpreting them as a “call for ethnic cleansing” and an attempt to undermine Palestinian national rights.
President Trump also hosted King Abdullah II in Washington, increasing pressure on Jordan to consider taking in refugees from Gaza as part of a broader strategy to reshape the Middle East.
When asked about the proposal to welcome refugees in Jordan, King Abdullah II did not offer detailed comments, though he expressed a willingness to take up to 2,000 children from Gaza who are in need of medical treatment. Recently, a World Health Organization official highlighted that between 12,000 and 14,000 patients in Gaza require medical evacuation, including 5,000 children.
Trump's comments suggesting the potential expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, without a right to return, have sparked widespread disapproval among Palestinians and the international community.
During the initial six-week phase of the ceasefire, Hamas committed to releasing 33 hostages captured during its October 2023 attack on Israel, while Israel agreed to release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Five exchanges have been completed since January 19.
If no agreement is reached on the more complex second phase of the ceasefire, the conflict may resume in early March. However, Israel would face a significantly altered battlefield, as many Palestinians, initially evacuated to southern Gaza, have since returned, complicating Israel’s ground troop movements.
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Metz reported from Rabat, Morocco. Associated Press writers Chris Megerian in Washington and Natalie Melzer in Nahariya, Israel, contributed to this report.
