Netanyahu: If Hamas Does Not Release Hostages by February 16, We Will Resume Gaza War

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that if the extremist group Hamas does not release Israeli hostages by noon on Saturday, February 16, his country will exit the ceasefire and resume the Gaza war. Netanyahu made this statement on Tuesday, February 13, shortly after a meeting of Israel's security cabinet. He said Hamas's announcement of not releasing the hostages as scheduled on Saturday constitutes a violation of the ceasefire, and he has instructed the Israeli army to deploy forces inside and around the Gaza Strip. He indicated that if the hostages are not released, the Israeli army will once again attack Gaza to eliminate Hamas. Meanwhile, Israeli media report that the security cabinet unanimously supported U.S. President Donald Trump's deadline for Hamas to free the Israeli hostages by Saturday. The Times of Israel and Haaretz quoted an unnamed Israeli official stating that Netanyahu's security cabinet also endorsed Trump's 'revolutionary vision' for the future of Gaza, which includes resettling Palestinians in another country and U.S. control over the region and its reconstruction. The Times of Israel noted that the security cabinet's meeting was held to discuss Israel's response to Hamas's announcement to halt the release of hostages and lasted four hours. According to this Israeli official, the cabinet meeting was 'comprehensive and deep.' Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union. Trump had previously warned that 'all Israeli hostages' held by Hamas must be released by noon on Saturday, or the Gaza ceasefire agreement must be revoked. He reiterated that the hostages must all be released, not just one or a few. Reports indicated that Netanyahu ordered the Israeli army to strengthen its positions in the Gaza Strip and its borders and to prepare for 'all scenarios' if the hostages are not freed by Hamas by Saturday. On the other hand, the German Foreign Minister warned that the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is 'hanging by a thread' and expressed concern about the resumption of military conflict in Gaza. He criticized Hamas for jeopardizing the ceasefire agreement. The next round of releasing Israeli hostages was scheduled for Saturday, February 16, but Hamas accused Israel on Monday of violating the ceasefire agreement and announced that it would suspend the planned release of hostages until further notice. The Israeli Defense Minister called Hamas's action a 'complete violation' of the ceasefire agreement. Hamas claimed that Israel has not fulfilled its commitments under the ceasefire agreement over the past three weeks and has obstructed humanitarian aid to Gaza and targeted Palestinian refugees returning to northern Gaza; Israel denied these accusations. However, shortly after its initial statement, Hamas announced that if Israel ceases its 'violation of the agreement,' it is ready to carry out the hostages' release program on Saturday as scheduled.