PM Netanyahu: Ceasefire Ends And IDF Returns To Fight Hamas If Hostages Are Not Released Saturday

JAKARTA - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Tuesday that the ceasefire would end and the Israeli military (IDF) would continue the fighting until Hamas is defeated, if they do not release hostages by midday Saturday.

It was announced after PM Netanyahu met with several key ministers, including defense, foreign affairs, and national security, who he said gave their full support for the ultimatum.

After nearly 16 months of war, Hamas has gradually released hostages since the first phase of the ceasefire began on January 19.

On Monday, Hamas announced it would delay the release of hostages scheduled for Saturday until further notice, accusing Israel of violating a number of terms of a ceasefire agreement.

"If Hamas doesn't return our hostages by Saturday afternoon - the ceasefire will end and the IDF (military) will return to fierce fighting until Hamas is finally defeated," Prime Minister Netanyahu said.

It is unclear whether PM Netanyahu asked Hamas to release all hostages held in Gaza or only three people are expected to be released on Saturday based on a ceasefire agreement.

The Prime Minister's office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the statement.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said Hamas should release all hostages by Saturday.

Furthermore, the Israeli Prime Minister also said it had ordered the military to gather troops inside and around Gaza, with the military announcing as soon as possible that they would deploy additional troops to the south of Israel including the mobilization of reserve forces.

Hamas itself responded to President Trump's ultimatum saying the hostages could be taken home only by complying with the ceasefire, instead of being like the threat of "chaotic chaos happens" if they are not released.

"Trump must remember that there is a deal that must be respected by both sides, and this is the only way to bring back prisoners (Israel)," said senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri.

Hamas said Israel had violated the ceasefire with several deadly shootings, detained several aid deliveries and prevented Gazans from returning to the northern region.

Israel denies holding back aid and says it has opened fire on people who ignored the warning not to approach Israeli forces.

So far, 16 of the 33 hostages have been released as part of the first phase of a ceasefire deal that will last for 42 days. Five Thai hostages were also released in an unscheduled release.

Instead, Israel has released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and prisoners, including prisoners serving life sentences for deadly attacks and others detained during the war and detained without charges.

There are 76 hostages still detained in Gaza, more than 35 of whom are believed to have died, according to Israeli media.

Separately, the Israeli group representing the family of hostages urged PM Netanyahu to stick to the ceasefire agreement.

"We must not back down. We must not allow the hostages to be wasted in detention," said the hostage forum.

The latest conflict broke out in Gaza after a Palestinian militant group led by Hamas attacked Israel's southern region on October 7, 2023, leaving about 1,200 people dead and 250 others taken to Gaza as hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Meanwhile, medical sources on Tuesday confirmed that the death toll from Palestine had reached 48,219 people, while the injured reached 111,665 people, the majority were children and women, quoted from WAFA.

Nearly the entire population of Gaza before the 2.3 million war had fled internally due to the conflict.