US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning on Monday, stating that “all hell” would break loose if every Israeli hostage held in Gaza was not released by noon on Saturday. His remarks come amidst escalating tensions and a fragile ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump declared his intention to call for the end of the ceasefire if Hamas failed to meet the deadline.
“But as far as I’m concerned, if all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday 12 o’clock—I think it’s an appropriate time—I would say cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out,” Trump said.
The ceasefire, which went into effect on January 19, has largely halted over 15 months of intense fighting in the Gaza Strip. Under the terms of the agreement, Israel and Hamas have engaged in a series of staggered exchanges: Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. Five such exchanges have already taken place, with three Israeli hostages and 183 Palestinian prisoners released just this past Saturday.
Despite this progress, tensions remain high. On Monday, Hamas announced it would postpone the next round of exchanges, originally scheduled for February 15.
A spokesman for Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, blamed Israel for violating the ceasefire terms. Abu Ubaida stated that further exchanges would be “pending the [Israeli] occupation’s compliance and retroactive fulfillment of the past weeks’ obligations.”
Hamas accuses Israel of failing to deliver on humanitarian aid commitments and of provocative actions, including the killing of three Gazans on Sunday.
The Israeli military responded by raising its level of readiness around Gaza, with Defence Minister Israel Katz instructing the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to prepare for “any possible scenario.”
“We are ready at the highest level of alert for renewed fighting if necessary,” Katz declared, calling Hamas’s decision a “complete violation” of the ceasefire deal.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed a hardline stance, stating that Israel remained committed to upholding the agreement but would not tolerate delays or violations.
Adding to the mounting tensions is a shock proposal by President Trump to take control of the Gaza Strip and displace its more than two million residents. Trump suggested relocating Palestinians to new housing outside Gaza, a plan that has been widely condemned by international legal experts and humanitarian organizations.
Netanyahu praised the proposal as “revolutionary” in a triumphant statement following his return from Washington. However, critics have slammed the idea as a blatant violation of international law and a gross infringement on Palestinian rights.
Despite the controversy, Trump remained defiant, even threatening to withhold aid to US allies Jordan and Egypt if they refused to accept displaced Palestinians.
“I’m talking about building a permanent place for them because if they have to return now, it’ll be years before you could ever—it’s not habitable,” Trump told Fox News earlier Monday.
Asked whether Palestinians would retain the right to return to Gaza, Trump bluntly said, “No, they wouldn’t, because they’re going to have much better housing.”
Jordan and Egypt, two key US allies, have firmly rejected the plan. Egypt’s foreign ministry issued a statement condemning “any compromise” of Palestinian rights, asserting that Palestinians have a right to remain on their land.
Cairo’s refusal has prompted Trump to threaten cuts to foreign aid for both Jordan and Egypt. He is set to meet Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Washington this week to discuss the plan.
For many Palestinians, the proposal evokes memories of the “Nakba” (catastrophe) in 1948, when hundreds of thousands were forcibly displaced from their homes during Israel’s creation.
Despite these threats and uncertainties, displaced Gazans have begun returning to their homes as Israeli forces withdrew from the critical Netzarim Corridor, which had divided Gaza into two parts during the conflict.
The humanitarian toll of the Gaza conflict remains staggering. The Hamas-run health ministry reports over 48,000 deaths in Gaza since the outbreak of war in October 2023, triggered by Hamas’s deadly attack on Israeli territory that left 1,210 dead and 251 hostages taken.
Among the hostages, the Israeli military reports that 73 remain in Gaza, including 34 believed to be deceased.
The United Nations has expressed concern over the treatment of hostages and prisoners. UN Human Rights Office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan described images of emaciated hostages and Palestinian detainees as “deeply distressing.”
“The Israelis freed show signs of ill-treatment and severe malnourishment, reflecting the very dire conditions they were subjected to in Gaza,” Al-Kheetan said.
He urged both sides to ensure humane treatment of all detainees.
Negotiators are set to meet in Qatar in the coming days to salvage the ceasefire agreement and discuss potential next phases. Talks on a second phase of the deal have already been delayed due to Israel’s refusal to send negotiators to Doha.
The Hostage and Missing Families Forum, a campaign group advocating for the return of Israeli hostages, has called on mediators to ensure the existing agreement is implemented effectively.
“We need international pressure to ensure compliance from all sides,” the group said in a statement.
Hamas has signaled that the door remains open for further exchanges if Israel fulfills its obligations.
As the clock ticks toward Trump’s Saturday deadline, the fragile ceasefire faces its gravest challenge yet.
The international community, including key mediators, will likely intensify efforts to prevent a return to full-scale conflict.
However, with Trump’s ultimatum and Israel’s heightened military posture, the path forward remains perilously uncertain.
