Israel Threatens to End Gaza Ceasefire Amid Rising Tensions

The Israeli government has warned that the Gaza ceasefire could be terminated if Hamas does not meet its demands, escalating concerns over renewed hostilities in the region.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given Hamas an ultimatum, insisting that Israeli hostages be released by noon on Saturday. He cautioned that if this demand is not met, Israel will end the current ceasefire and restart “intense” military operations in Gaza.

In the last three weeks, Hamas has freed 21 captives through a series of exchanges involving hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. However, on Monday, they threatened to cease further exchanges. They accused Israel of breaching deal terms by blocking displaced Palestinians’ return to northern Gaza, limiting humanitarian aid deliveries, and postponing negotiations for the next phase of the ceasefire.

Netanyahu’s announcement came after a four-hour Security Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, where he and his ministers unanimously agreed to restart full-scale combat in Gaza if Hamas fails to meet the deadline.

“In response to Hamas’s announcement about breaking the agreement and refusing to release our hostages, I directed the IDF last night to gather forces within and around the Gaza Strip,” Netanyahu stated.

If Hamas does not return our hostages by noon on Saturday, the ceasefire will be terminated, and the IDF will recommence intense operations until Hamas is decisively defeated.

Netanyahu did not clarify if he anticipated the release of all hostages or only the three who were already planned for exchange on Saturday.

The ultimatum mirrored a previous demand issued by President Donald Trump earlier on Monday. He cautioned that if all hostages were not freed by Saturday, “all bets are off” and “all hell is going to break out” in Gaza.

In a meeting with Netanyahu last week, Trump proposed having the US take control of the Palestinian enclave to develop it into what he called “the Riviera of the Middle East.” His plan included relocating Palestinians from Gaza—devastated after 15 months of conflict between Israel and Hamas—to nearby nations like Jordan and Egypt.

After meeting with Trump on Tuesday, King Abdullah II of Jordan reaffirmed his strong stance against the forced displacement of Palestinians, describing it as a “unified Arab position.” He emphasized that the foremost priority should be rebuilding Gaza without displacing its Palestinian residents and addressing the severe humanitarian crisis.

In response to a Hamas cross-border raid in October 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and left around 250 others taken hostage, Israel initiated a military operation in Gaza. According to the Health Ministry of the enclave, Israeli retaliatory attacks have led to the deaths of about 47,500 Palestinians and injuries exceeding 111,500. UN data indicates that as much as 90% of Gaza’s population has been internally displaced due to ongoing conflicts.

In an interview with RT on Friday, Bassem Naim, head of Hamas’ political branch, stated that forcibly relocating Palestinians would constitute “ethnic cleansing” and a “crime against humanity.”