The Gaza ceasefire will end if Hamas does not return Israeli hostages by midday on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said.
He warned of a return to “intense fighting” if the hostages are not released.
Hamas said on Monday it would postpone the scheduled release of Israeli hostages, accusing Israel of violating the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
Mr Netanyahu made the announcement after an “in-depth four-hour discussion in the political-security cabinet”.
He said the cabinet “all expressed outrage at the shocking situation of our three hostages who were released last Saturday”.
Mr Netanyahu said they passed a unanimous agreement: “If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon – the ceasefire will be terminated, and the IDF will return to intense fighting until Hamas is finally defeated.”
Donald Trump has emboldened Israel to call for the release of remaining hostages, rather than the three scheduled to be freed in the next exchange.
Mr Netanyahu said the cabinet “welcomed” Mr Trump’s demand for hostages to be released by midday Saturday, “and we all also welcomed the president’s revolutionary vision for the future of Gaza”.
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