Netanyahu: Israel will resume Gaza war if hostages not freed Saturday
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Netanyahu speaks at the Capitol on Feb. 7. Photo: Oliver Contreras/AFP via Getty Images
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that Israel will end the ceasefire and resume the war in Gaza if Hamas doesn't "return our hostages by Saturday at noon."
Why it matters: This is the most serious crisis the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal has faced since it was signed in January. If both Hamas and Israel stick to their current positions, the war will resume this weekend.
How it happened: Hamas said Monday that it would indefinitely postpone the release of three hostages scheduled for this weekend, alleging Israel was violating the ceasefire. Failing to release the hostages would be a breach of the agreement.
- President Trump responded by declaring that the ceasefire should end if Hamas does not release all 76 hostages it is still holding — a demand that goes far beyond what is laid out in the ceasefire.
- Netanyahu alluded to those remarks by Trump but did not specifically endorse them. He did not say how many hostages he expects to be released on Saturday.
- Israeli officials tell Axios that Netanyahu is not demanding the release of all 76 hostages by Saturday, and is willing to continue implementing the first phase of the deal if Hamas releases the three hostages as agreed.
- Nine live hostages are still scheduled to be released over the next three weeks as part of the first phase, along with the remains of eight deceased hostages.
What they're saying: After a four-hour security cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said that in light of Hamas' "decision to violate the agreement" the government had determined that if the hostages aren't released by Saturday, "the ceasefire will be terminated and the IDF will return to intense fighting until Hamas is finally defeated."
- President Trump reiterated his ultimatum for Hamas at the top of his meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan at the White House on Tuesday.
- "I have a Saturday deadline. I don't think they (Hamas) are gonna make the deadline. They want to play tough guy. We will see how tough they are ... if they don't release all the hostages all bets are off," Trump said.
The other side: After Netanyahu's remarks Hamas issued a statement stressing it will adhere to the ceasefire agreement as long as Israel is committed to it.
- "Israel is the one that does not fulfill its promises, therefore Israel bears responsibility for any changes or delays in the agreement," Hamas said.
- The group claims Israel violated the deal by delaying the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, conducting airstrikes in several parts of Gaza and delaying the entry of tents and mobile homes into Gaza for Palestinians who lost their homes.
- Israel claimed most of Hamas accusations are false and stressed that it is not responsible for the delay in the supply of the mobile homes.
Behind the scenes: Israeli officials told Axios that during the security cabinet meeting the heads of the Israeli negotiating team urged Netanyahu and the rest of the ministers not to escalate the situation.
- They told the ministers that Israel should to try and work out the crisis with the Qatari and Egyptian mediators in order to secure the release of the three hostages on Saturday and the remaining hostages in the next three weeks.
The big picture: During his meeting with King Abdullah, Trump spoke again about his "Gaza takeover" plan but stressed the U.S. and its allies in the region will decide "together" where Palestinians from Gaza will be relocated to.
- At the same time, he said he wants Jordan and Egypt to each give a parcel of land for resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza.
- "99% we will work out something with Egypt," Trump said, even as Cairo goes all out to oppose his plan.
King Abdullah said at the top of his meeting with Trump that Jordan will take 2000 Palestinian children from Gaza for medical treatment in Jordan.
- "It's a beautiful gesture. Music to my ears," Trump responded.
- The king then said that Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries are going to consult soon about Trump's plan and prepare an alternative proposal for the reconstruction of Gaza.
- While not rejecting Trump's plan in front of the cameras, after the meeting the king wrote on X that he reiterated to the president that Jordan opposes the displacement of Palestinians.
- "This is the unified Arab position. Rebuilding Gaza without displacing the Palestinians, and addressing the dire humanitarian situation, should be the priority for all," he wrote.
