The ceasefire between Hamas and Israel appeared increasingly fragile on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump warned of severe consequences unless Hamas releases all Israeli hostages by the weekend.
The truce, in place since January 19, has largely halted over 15 months of fighting in the Gaza Strip and facilitated the release of five groups of Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
However, tensions escalated after Trump proposed taking control of Gaza and displacing its more than two million residents.
Trump’s Ultimatum
On Monday, Trump intensified pressure, stating he would call for an end to the ceasefire if all Israeli hostages were not freed by noon on Saturday.
“If all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock—I think it’s an appropriate time—I would say cancel it, and all bets are off. Let hell break out,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
The current ceasefire agreement stipulates staggered hostage releases over a 42-day first phase.
Hamas Delays Hostage Release
Hours before Trump’s statement, Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, announced that the next scheduled hostage release, set for Saturday, would be “postponed until further notice.”
The group accused Israel of failing to uphold its commitments, including aid deliveries, and cited the deaths of three Gazans on Sunday.
Hamas stated that it gave a five-day advance notice to mediators to push Israel into compliance.
“The door remains open for the prisoner exchange batch to proceed as planned, once the occupation complies,” the group said.
Israeli Response and Military Readiness
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz condemned Hamas’s announcement as a “complete violation” of the ceasefire agreement and signaled that fighting could resume.
“I have instructed the IDF (military) to prepare at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza,” Katz stated.
In response, the Israeli military said it had increased its level of readiness around Gaza and reinforced its presence in the area.
On Tuesday, Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a vocal opponent of the ceasefire, demanded the immediate release of all hostages, rallying under the slogan: “Everyone Now.”
Negotiations in Qatar
Mediators were scheduled to meet in Qatar to discuss the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, which remains uncertain.
Talks on the second phase of the agreement were supposed to begin on day 16 of the truce, but Israel has refused to send its negotiators to Doha.
The Hostage and Missing Families Forum, an advocacy group, urged mediators to ensure the existing deal is fully implemented.
Controversy Over Trump’s Gaza Proposal
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump’s proposal to displace Gazans as “revolutionary” after returning from Washington.
The plan, widely criticized by the United Nations and legal experts as a violation of international law, has sparked global opposition.
Trump also suggested on Monday that US allies Jordan and Egypt could face potential aid cuts if they refuse to accept displaced Palestinians under his controversial plan. He is scheduled to meet Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Washington this week.
