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Netanyahu: If Hostages Are Not Released by Saturday, Israel Will End Gaza Ceasefire

Feb 2, 2026 February 2, 2026 2 min read 📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has set a deadline for the release of hostages held by Hamas, threatening to end the Gaza ceasefire if they are not freed by Saturday. Hamas has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire and has postponed the release of hostages. This situation escalates tensions in the region and involves key players like the U.S. and Iran.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is at risk, with significant implications for regional and international stability.

👥 Key Players

Benjamin Netanyahu MENTIONED
Prime Minister of Israel
"As the leader of Israel, Netanyahu's decisions directly impact Israeli military and diplomatic actions, particularly in conflicts involving Hamas."
Hamas MENTIONED
Palestinian militant organization
"Hamas governs the Gaza Strip and is a key player in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, often backed by Iran."
Gideon Sa'ar MENTIONED
Israel's Foreign Minister
"Sa'ar plays a crucial role in shaping Israel's foreign policy and diplomatic relations, especially with the EU and other international bodies."
Donald Trump MENTIONED
Former U.S. President
"Trump's statements can influence U.S. public opinion and potentially impact U.S. foreign policy regarding the Middle East."

📰 What Happened

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has threatened to end the Gaza ceasefire if Hamas does not release hostages by Saturday. Hamas has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire, complicating ongoing negotiations.

  • Netanyahu set a deadline for hostage release by Saturday.
  • Hamas postponed the release of hostages, accusing Israel of violations.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: Iran supports Hamas and thus has a vested interest in the outcome of the ceasefire and any potential escalation.
🌍 Regional: The ceasefire's potential collapse could lead to renewed conflict, affecting regional stability and security.
🌐 International: Western countries, particularly the U.S. and EU, are involved in mediation efforts and have interests in maintaining regional peace.

📚 Background

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been ongoing for decades, with periodic escalations and attempts at ceasefire. Hamas, governing Gaza, is often in conflict with Israel.

Israeli-Palestinian conflict Middle East peace process
📡 Source: INTERNATIONAL
📊 Confidence: 70%
The information is sourced from Reuters and CNN, which are generally considered reliable international news organizations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that the Gaza ceasefire would end if hostages were not released by noon on Saturday, and the Israeli army would resume its attacks on Hamas until the complete defeat of the group. According to Reuters, following Netanyahu's deadline, Hamas reiterated its commitment to the ceasefire agreement and accused Israel of jeopardizing it. The Israeli statement came after Netanyahu met with several key government ministers, including the ministers of defense, foreign affairs, and national security, who, according to him, expressed their full support for this deadline. CNN reported that so far, 16 of the 33 hostages held by Hamas, who were supposed to be released in this phase of the agreement, have been freed, and Israel has also released 656 Palestinian prisoners from a list of nearly 2,000. The Palestinian group Hamas, backed by the Iranian government, announced on Monday that it was postponing the release of hostages on Saturday 'until further notice,' accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement. Gideon Sa'ar, Israel's foreign minister, said on Tuesday in a meeting with EU ambassadors that if Hamas refuses to release the hostages, Israel will resume military operations and war in Gaza. He emphasized that 'Israel has not acted unilaterally so far' and added, 'Hamas's decision not to release the hostages is a decision to return to war, and we are prepared for the reality that Hamas may once again attack Israel.' Former U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday to reporters at the White House that if each Israeli hostage is not released by noon on Saturday, 'hell will break loose,' calling for an end to the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. A team has been dispatched for negotiations in Qatar following a meeting with the U.S. special envoy, expressing Qatar's hope for Trump's support for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire. Efforts are underway by Israel and mediators to initiate the second phase of the agreement and prisoner exchange, with the names of 33 Israeli hostages for release in the first phase of the ceasefire agreement being published.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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