Netanyahu: "If Hostages Not Released by 15th, Fighting Will Resume"... Ceasefire at Risk

Israeli Military: "Strengthening Readiness... Additional Troops to Be Deployed"

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Hamas, the Palestinian armed faction, on the 11th (local time) that "if the hostages are not released by noon on the 15th, the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip will end."

Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel. Photo by AP and Yonhap News Agency

After a four-hour security cabinet meeting that afternoon, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated in a video message, "The Israeli military will resume intense combat until Hamas is ultimately defeated." He explained that this policy was unanimously decided by the security cabinet.

Netanyahu welcomed the fact that former U.S. President Donald Trump had made the same demand to Hamas, saying, "The cabinet also welcomes President Trump's revolutionary plan for the future of the Gaza Strip."

Netanyahu emphasized, "Following Hamas's announcement that they would not release the hostages and broke the agreement, I ordered the military to concentrate forces inside and outside the Gaza Strip yesterday," adding, "This operation is currently underway and will be completed as soon as possible." He also added, "We all express anger at the shocking situation of the three hostages released last Saturday."

Immediately after Netanyahu's statement, the Israeli military announced, "In accordance with the decision to strengthen readiness, we will add reservists and others to the troop reinforcements near the Gaza Strip."

The day before, Hamas announced that it would indefinitely postpone the release of hostages scheduled for the 15th, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement by delaying the return of residents in northern Gaza, firing at civilians, and blocking the delivery of relief supplies such as fuel and tents. It is known that nine people were scheduled to be released on the 15th.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump also warned that if the hostages are not released by noon on the 15th, the ceasefire must be canceled, saying, "All hell will break loose."

The Israeli military and Hamas entered into a ceasefire again on the 19th of last month, 15 months after the outbreak of the war. Since then, Hamas has released 21 surviving hostages, and the Israeli military has freed more than 670 Palestinian prisoners in exchange. Seventy-six hostages still remain in the Gaza Strip.