by Our Correspondent in Doha
The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appears to be on the verge of collapse as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to announce a shift in policy, aligning with former U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand for the immediate release of all Israeli hostages.
Trump warned on Monday that Hamas must release all captives by Saturday at 12 o’clock, or he would support Israel in canceling the ceasefire. “If they’re not returned—all of them—by Saturday at 12 o’clock… after that, all hell is going to break out,” Trump said, without specifying whether he meant midnight or noon.
His remarks have sparked fears of renewed Israeli military action in Gaza, with Hebrew media reporting that Netanyahu may adopt Trump’s stance in his upcoming speech. If confirmed, this would mark a significant departure from the current ceasefire agreement, which initially required Hamas to release only three hostages this weekend in a gradual exchange process.
Hamas Delays Hostage Release, Cites Israeli Violations
Hamas had already postponed the planned release of hostages, accusing Israel of failing to uphold the terms of the agreement, including restrictions on aid access and military movements. In response, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered the military to prepare for the resumption of hostilities, branding Hamas’s actions a “complete violation” of the ceasefire.
Under the original deal brokered by the U.S., Hamas has so far released 21 Israeli hostages in exchange for over 700 Palestinian prisoners. However, the next phase—requiring Hamas to release all remaining hostages in exchange for hundreds more prisoners and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza—has yet to begin, and Netanyahu’s new position could nullify that agreement entirely.
Jordan and Egypt Push Back Against Trump’s Gaza Plan
The ceasefire dispute comes as Trump faces strong opposition from regional leaders over his controversial proposal to resettle Gaza’s 2.2 million residents outside the enclave permanently.
Jordan’s King Abdullah, set to meet Trump in Washington on Tuesday, is expected to strongly reject any forced displacement of Palestinians, a move that analysts say would be seen as an attempt to repeat the Nakba (catastrophe) of 1948. Egyptian officials have similarly dismissed Trump’s suggestion, despite his implicit threat to cut U.S. aid to Jordan and Egypt if they refuse to take in refugees.
With Netanyahu under pressure from far-right allies to resume military action and Hamas refusing to proceed with hostage releases under the current conditions, the ceasefire is hanging by a thread. If Netanyahu follows Trump’s lead, a new round of violence in Gaza appears imminent.
