Netanyahu Sets Ultimatum for Hamas: Ceasefire at Risk as Hostages Hold the Key
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a stark warning to Hamas, threatening to end the ongoing ceasefire if hostages are not returned by Saturday at noon. This ultimatum was echoed earlier in the day by U.S. President Donald Trump, highlighting the urgency and seriousness of the situation.
During a security cabinet meeting that included key figures such as the Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs, Netanyahu articulated the government's unanimous decision, emphasizing that ongoing hostilities will resume with renewed intensity if Hamas fails to comply. The context of these threats comes amidst statements from Hamas indicating that they do not plan to release any more hostages, a position that has forced Israel to prepare its military— mobilizing forces within and around the Gaza Strip.
The fragile ceasefire, established on January 19, has been under pressure in recent days due to a series of events and statements that jeopardize its stability. Negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire were initially set to commence last week, but no substantive talks have taken place as of yet.
Currently, the ceasefire's initial phase involves a delicate balance: Hamas has released 33 Israeli hostages, while Israel has freed approximately 1900 Palestinian prisoners. Thus far, Hamas has released a total of 21 hostages, comprising 16 Israelis and 5 Thais, with the exchanges predominantly occurring on Saturdays. The latest exchange took place on February 8, but it was marked by controversy as Hamas orchestrated a scripted event wherein three Israeli hostages, visibly in poor health, were compelled to express gratitude towards their captors for their treatment.
The situation escalated when, on February 10, Hamas declared it would suspend any further releases of Israeli hostages, claiming that Israel was in breach of the terms of the original agreement. In response, Israel has accused Hamas of not honoring their commitments regarding the release order of hostages and has raised concerns over the way these releases were conducted, particularly the most recent exchange.
Hamas's latest announcement about suspending future releases was made deliberately ahead of time. The group intends to give international mediators—primarily Egypt, Qatar, and the United States—a window to negotiate a fresh resolution. Simultaneously, Hamas has articulated requests for humanitarian relief, including temporary accommodations and heavy machinery to aid in debris removal, citing impediments posed by Israel on these fronts. Furthermore, the group has noted that Israel has restricted the entry of humanitarian aid trucks, although there has been an increase in aid deliveries since the ceasefire's commencement about a month ago.
As the deadline approaches, the pressure intensifies for both sides to reach a viable agreement. The fate of the hostages remains a pivotal point around which further negotiations and military actions will pivot in the coming days, with the specter of renewed conflict looming ever closer.
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