Hamas announced Monday that it would delay the release of additional hostages, accusing Israel of violating the three-week-old ceasefire in Gaza.
The group cited Israeli shelling and gunfire, an insufficient flow of humanitarian aid, and the failure to allow displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza as reasons for halting further releases.
The decision comes after three Israeli hostages were freed on Saturday in severely emaciated condition, intensifying pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure the release of all captives still held in Gaza.
Israel and Hamas Trade Accusations Over Ceasefire Deal
Israel denied violating the ceasefire and accused Hamas of breaking the deal instead. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called the delay in hostage releases a “complete violation of the ceasefire agreement and the hostage release deal.”
In response, the Israeli military canceled leave for soldiers assigned to Gaza, signaling heightened readiness for potential escalation.
Meanwhile, humanitarian aid has also emerged as a key point of contention. While aid deliveries to Gaza have increased, the United Nations has accused Israel of restricting essential supplies such as agricultural materials, telecommunications equipment, and reconstruction aid.
Hamas has used these restrictions to justify its decision to delay hostage releases, further complicating negotiations.
Trump’s Ultimatum: Hostages Must Be Freed by Saturday
Former U.S. President Donald Trump responded to Hamas’ announcement by demanding that all remaining hostages be freed by midday on Saturday.
“If they’re not here, all hell is going to break out,” he said. “Cancel [the ceasefire], and all bets are off.”
While he acknowledged that Israel would make the final decision, he hinted at potential U.S. involvement, stating,
“I’m speaking for myself. Israel can override it.” When asked whether the U.S. would take action against Hamas if hostages were not freed, he added, “Hamas will find out what I mean.”
As tensions over the hostage crisis grow, Trump has also drawn criticism for proposing that the United States take control of Gaza and turn it into a real estate development project.
In an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier, he dismissed the idea of allowing displaced Palestinians to return to Gaza.
“No, they wouldn’t,” he said. “Think of it as a real estate development for the future. It would be a beautiful piece of land.”
His remarks contradict previous statements from his administration, which had framed Palestinian displacement as a temporary measure for reconstruction.
Arab Leaders Condemn Trump’s Gaza Real Estate Proposal
Trump’s comments have been met with strong opposition from Arab leaders, particularly Egypt and Jordan. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry warned that any forced displacement of Palestinians would “threaten the foundations of peace in the Middle East.”
Jordan’s King Abdullah II, a longtime opponent of Palestinian removal, is set to meet Trump in Washington on Tuesday to discuss the issue. Meanwhile, Trump threatened to cut U.S. aid to Jordan and Egypt if they refuse to accept Palestinian refugees.
“Yeah, maybe, sure, why not? If they don’t, I would conceivably withhold aid, yes,” he said.
The ceasefire, which took effect on January 20 after 15 months of war, has become increasingly fragile.
Under the agreement, Hamas initially committed to freeing 33 hostages in exchange for a temporary halt to Israeli military operations and the release of Palestinian prisoners. So far, 16 hostages have been freed, but Hamas claims Israel has not upheld its commitments.
Families of Israeli hostages have called for immediate international intervention, warning that those still in captivity may not survive much longer.
“Recent evidence from those released, as well as the shocking conditions of the hostages released last Saturday, leaves no room for doubt — time is of the essence,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said.
Trump has also raised concerns that Hamas may have already released the healthiest hostages and that those still in captivity could be gravely ill or dead.
“Based on what I saw over the past two days, they’re not going to be alive for long,” he said.
Israeli security officials have held emergency meetings to discuss their next steps, while hostage families continue to pressure mediators to push Hamas into resuming releases.
