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ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stark warning on Tuesday, stating that Israel would end its ceasefire agreement with Hamas if hostages were not returned by midday on Saturday.
Netanyahu emphasised that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) would resume full-scale military operations against Hamas until the militant group was defeated. This ultimatum follows over 16 months of war, with hostages gradually being released by Hamas since the first phase of the ceasefire began on January 19.
However, Hamas has now declared that it will cease releasing further hostages, accusing Israel of breaching the terms of the ceasefire.
In response to Netanyahu’s declaration, Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire and blamed Israel for putting the agreement at risk.
The statement from the Palestinian group came shortly after Netanyahu's meeting with key ministers in charge of defense, foreign affairs, and national security, who backed the prime minister’s stance.
It remains unclear whether Netanyahu is demanding the release of all hostages or only the three individuals expected to be freed on Saturday under the terms of the ceasefire.
The situation escalated further as US President Donald Trump, a staunch ally of Israel, also demanded that all hostages be freed by the deadline, warning that dire consequences would follow if Hamas failed to comply.
In the aftermath of Netanyahu’s remarks, Israel’s military announced the deployment of additional forces to the southern part of the country, mobilising reservists to prepare for potential escalation.
Hamas, however, insists that the terms of the ceasefire agreement must be respected, stating that hostages will only be returned if Israel upholds its end of the deal.
The militant group has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire by carrying out deadly shootings and restricting aid deliveries, as well as impeding Gazans' movement back to the northern part of the strip. Israel denies these claims, asserting that it has only responded to individuals who ignored warnings and approached Israeli forces.
As of now, Reuter reported that 16 out of the 33 hostages held by Hamas have been released as part of the ongoing ceasefire, which was initially set to last for 42 days. Additionally, five Thai nationals were freed in an unscheduled release. In exchange for the hostages, Israel has released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including individuals serving life sentences for attacks and others held without charge during the war.
An Israeli group representing the families of hostages has urged Netanyahu to honor the ceasefire agreement, stressing the need to prevent the hostages from remaining in captivity any longer. Currently, 76 hostages are still held by Hamas, with Israeli media reporting that more than 35 of them are feared to be dead.
Meanwhile, Israel's far-right Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, who was present during Netanyahu's meeting with ministers, expressed that if all hostages were not released by Saturday, military action should resume immediately.
Smotrich suggested that Gaza's water, electricity, and aid should be cut off, and called for the forced displacement of Palestinians from the region. He declared that Israel would launch intense military operations, including airstrikes and artillery, to regain full control over Gaza.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. The enclave, one of the most densely populated areas in the world, has been severely impacted by Israel's military offensive, which has left Gaza in desperate need of food, water, shelter, and billions of dollars in aid. According to Gaza’s health ministry, over 48,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in the conflict, and nearly the entire population of 2.3 million people has been displaced.
The conflict began with a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of around 250 individuals, who were taken to Gaza as hostages.
US President Donald Trump recently proposed a controversial plan for Gaza, suggesting that the United States should take control of the territory and relocate over 2 million Palestinians in order to transform Gaza into a "Riviera of the Middle East." Netanyahu expressed his approval of this plan, and Israel's security cabinet has reportedly endorsed it.
However, the proposal has faced widespread condemnation from Palestinians, Arab leaders, and human rights organizations, with critics arguing that it would violate international law and displace an entire population under military occupation, which is considered a war crime under the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
Trump’s plan has sparked outrage among Palestinians, who fear it echoes the forced displacement they endured during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, which they refer to as the Nakba, or "catastrophe." For Jordan, the notion of resettling Palestinians is seen as a serious threat to its own stability, as the country already hosts a large Palestinian refugee population.
The situation in Gaza has become increasingly volatile, and many people living in the region have expressed their frustration with Trump's recent remarks about the potential for “hell to break loose” if hostages are not freed by Saturday.
As the ceasefire deadline approaches, tensions remain high, and the future of the hostages and the ceasefire hangs in the balance. – February 12, 2025