The Israeli army announced on Tuesday evening (11/2) that it is strengthening its forces around the Gaza Strip, shortly after Netanyahu's ultimatum to Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Tuesday that if Hamas does not release hostages by noon on Saturday (February 15), the ceasefire agreement will collapse and new military operations will begin in the Gaza Strip.
"Following Hamas' announcement of its decision to violate the agreement and not release our hostages, yesterday (February 10) evening I ordered the Israeli army to gather forces in and around the Gaza Strip," Netanyahu said after the Israeli security council meeting.
"If Hamas does not hand over the hostages to us by noon on Saturday, the ceasefire will end and the Israeli army will return to the battlefields until the final victory over Hamas," the Israeli prime minister clarified.
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is threatened with collapse
Netanyahu's statements came after recent statements by US President Donald Trump, who threatened "hell" if the hostages are not released.
Following Hamas's statement that it would delay the release of Israeli hostages, Donald Trump warned that if the Palestinian organization does not return "all" of the hostages by noon on Saturday, he will call for the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to be canceled and "let all hell break loose."
According to CNN, Trump, speaking to reporters, emphasized that "as far as I'm concerned, if all the hostages haven't returned home by noon on Saturday - I think that's a good date - I'm going to say: '"cancel" the deal, and "let all hell break loose."
Asked what it might mean if "all hell breaks loose" in Gaza, Trump replied: "You'll find out, and they'll find out - Hamas will know what I mean."
"I speak for myself. Israel can bypass it, but as far as I'm concerned, if by Saturday at 12, they haven't been released (the hostages), all hell will break loose," he added.
The American tycoon expressed skepticism about whether the hostages remain alive, telling reporters: "I think a lot of the hostages are dead."
As part of the first phase of the agreed ceasefire, Hamas gradually released hostages it had been holding after the massacre of October 7, 2023, in southern Israel.
However, on Monday (10/2) the Palestinian armed organization announced that the release of hostages scheduled for Saturday was being postponed "until further notice", accusing Israel of violating the terms of the agreement, blocking the flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and targeting displaced Palestinians returning to the northern part of the enclave.
Hamas declares commitment to negotiations
Hamas noted that it remains committed to the agreed ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, accusing Israel of being solely responsible for any "complications or delays."
The Palestinian Islamist movement's announcement was made public after Israel's prime minister warned that if Hamas does not release hostages by noon on Saturday, the ceasefire agreement will collapse and new military operations will begin in the Gaza Strip.
Tonight's Hamas statement also highlights the categorical rejection of Trump's plan to displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip "under the pretext of rebuilding the region."
Source: iefimerida.gr
