Israel Threatens to Resume Gaza Fighting If Hostages Not Freed by Saturday

Israel issued a stern warning on Tuesday, threatening to resume “intense fighting” in Gaza if Hamas does not release hostages by this weekend. While the truce between the two sides has largely held for over 15 months, tensions have escalated, and the deal regarding prisoner swaps appears to be fraying.

Under the ceasefire agreement, which has temporarily halted hostilities, Hamas agreed to release Israeli captives in stages in exchange for Palestinians held by Israel. So far, five swaps have been completed. However, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that if Hamas does not return the remaining hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire would end, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) would resume intense fighting until Hamas is “decisively defeated.”

This ultimatum came as Hamas insisted it was committed to the ceasefire, despite accusing Israel of violating the terms of the deal. Hamas also postponed the next hostage release, citing Israel’s failure to meet its obligations, including the provision of aid.

The deadline has sparked further diplomatic friction, with U.S. President Donald Trump echoing Israel’s position, saying “hell” would break loose if Hamas failed to release all hostages by the Saturday deadline. Trump also suggested a radical course of action—taking over Gaza and removing its two million residents—remarks that have heightened international concern.

In response to these developments, Palestinian leaders and allied factions, including Yemen’s Huthi rebels, warned that any escalation would lead to military intervention. Senior Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri condemned Trump’s comments as complicating efforts to maintain the ceasefire, emphasizing the need for both parties to uphold the terms of the agreement.

As the standoff continues, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with at least 48,219 Palestinian deaths reported by Gaza’s health ministry. The UN has called for more than $53 billion to rebuild Gaza, and the international community has expressed concern over the potential for a renewed outbreak of violence.

Despite the threats, many in Gaza are praying for peace. Residents like Adnan Qassem from Deir el-Balah fear that factions within both Israel and Hamas are pushing for war, while families of hostages in Israel continue to rally for a resolution to the crisis.

The coming days will be critical as the deadline looms, and diplomatic efforts intensify to prevent further escalation.