Hamas has strongly rejected US President Donald Trump’s recent threat to end the ceasefire and take drastic action if all hostages are not returned by noon Saturday. The terror group warned that such “threats have no value” and could “further complicate” the already fragile situation in Gaza.
Trump’s comments, made Monday during a White House briefing, warned that if Hamas did not comply with the terms of the ceasefire and release all hostages by the set deadline, the consequences would be severe. “All bets are off,” Trump declared, vowing to let “hell break out” if the hostages are not returned.
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The US president’s remarks came just hours after Hamas announced its decision to delay the next scheduled hostage release. The group cited alleged violations by Israel of the ongoing ceasefire deal as the reason for the postponement. Hamas claimed that the Israeli military had hindered the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza and obstructed the delivery of vital humanitarian supplies, including trailers for temporary shelters.
The ceasefire agreement, brokered last month, halted over a year of hostilities that began with Hamas’s deadly October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The deal required Hamas to release hostages while Israel would free thousands of Palestinian prisoners. The ceasefire also promised a reduction in fighting, a gradual IDF withdrawal from Gaza, and negotiations toward a longer-term peace agreement.
Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri responded to Trump’s ultimatum, asserting that both sides must honor the agreement for any meaningful progress. “Trump must remember that there is an agreement that must be respected by both parties, and this is the only way to return the prisoners,” Abu Zuhri told AFP. He dismissed the language of threats, warning that it only exacerbates the delicate situation.
UN Calls for Compliance from Both Sides
The United Nations has echoed the call for both Hamas and Israel to adhere to the ceasefire agreement. UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday urged both parties to avoid a return to violence, which he said could result in “immense tragedy.” He urged Hamas to proceed with the planned release of hostages and emphasized the need for both sides to meet their commitments.
As of February 8, 2025, 16 hostages had been freed in the first phase of the deal, with 17 remaining to be returned. The next phase of negotiations, which was to involve the release of additional hostages and Palestinian prisoners, as well as a continued halt to fighting, was expected to begin last week but has been delayed.
Israeli Far-Right Supports Trump’s Ultimatum
Trump’s strong stance has found support among Israel’s far-right politicians, many of whom have been critical of the ceasefire deal from the outset. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has previously threatened to leave the coalition over the deal, praised Trump’s ultimatum, suggesting that Israel should also impose its own deadline for Hamas to return the hostages.
Itamar Ben Gvir, leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, also backed Trump’s position, calling for a resumption of military action against Hamas. “Trump is correct. Return to destroying Hamas now,” Ben Gvir tweeted, signaling a shift in the political landscape as tensions rise.
The Tikva Forum, a hawkish group of hostages’ families, expressed their support for the American president’s hardline approach. The forum argued that the Israeli government must act decisively to bring back the hostages, “at any price,” even if it means further escalation. “Hamas must pay for their actions,” the forum said in a statement.
IDF on High Alert as Tensions Mount
As the political rhetoric intensifies, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have raised their level of readiness. In response to Hamas’s decision to delay the hostage release, the IDF canceled furloughs for soldiers in southern Israel and bolstered defensive positions along the Gaza border.
The army also canceled a planned tree-planting ceremony near the Gaza border, which was set to honor those killed during the October 7 attacks. The ceremony, organized by the Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), was meant to commemorate the victims and provide a moment of healing for the families of the fallen. However, in light of the rising tensions, military officials deemed it prudent to cancel the event.
While the cancellation of the ceremony is a minor setback, the military’s move to increase preparedness signals that Israel is bracing for potential escalation. No changes have been made to guidelines for civilians, but the IDF remains on high alert, closely monitoring developments in Gaza.
Negotiations for Phase Two Stalled
The second phase of the ceasefire agreement was supposed to focus on the return of the remaining hostages, the release of additional Palestinian prisoners, and the eventual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. However, these discussions have been delayed due to the continued back-and-forth over the hostages’ return.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent comments, which suggested that fighting with Hamas might resume if the deal is not fully implemented, have added uncertainty to the situation. Netanyahu has faced mounting pressure from right-wing factions, including the Tikva Forum and Smotrich, to abandon the ceasefire and pursue military action instead.
In contrast, US officials have continued to press for the full implementation of the agreement, with Trump specifically calling for a US-led post-war resettlement of Gaza’s population. His comments reflect growing frustration with the ongoing hostage crisis, but they also highlight the complex geopolitical dynamics at play as both sides seek to leverage the situation for their own gain.
The Path Forward
As the ceasefire deal remains on a knife-edge, the coming days will likely be critical. The return of hostages and the fate of the Gaza truce hang in the balance, with both Hamas and Israel facing immense pressure from internal and international stakeholders. The next few days may determine whether diplomacy or military action will define the future of the region.
For now, both sides appear locked in a high-stakes game of brinkmanship, with global attention fixed on the unfolding crisis.
