Gaza ceasefire will end if Hamas doesn't return all hostages by Saturday noon: Benjamin Netanyahu
Jerusalem/IBNS: Israel Tuesday threatened to end the ceasefire and resume "intense fighting" in Gaza if no hostages were released this weekend, media reports said.
His warning echoes a similar one from US President Donald Trump, who said the truce deal will end if Hamas fails to release all hostages by Saturday.
Donald Trump, who has taken credit for securing the agreement that went into effect last month, earlier said the US would take over Gaza and resettle the Palestinians.
While hosting Jordan's King Abdullah II at the White House on Tuesday, on being asked if his deadline was still held, Trump responded with a "yes".
Under the terms of the ceasefire, which has largely halted more than 15 months of fighting in Gaza, hostages were to be released in batches in exchange for Palestinians in Israeli custody.
So far, Israel and Hamas have completed five hostage-prisoner swaps.
The agreement has come under increasing strain in recent days, prompting diplomatic interference.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that "if Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF (Israeli military) will resume intense fighting until Hamas is decisively defeated."
Tensions were initially spiked after Trump's Gaza takeover proposal last month.
"As far as I'm concerned, if all of the hostages aren't returned by Saturday 12 o'clock... I would say cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out," Trump said on Monday.
Senior Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri said Trump's remark "further complicates matters".
"Trump must remember that there is an agreement that must be respected by both parties and this is the only way to return" the hostages, he told AFP.
His group said it would postpone the next hostage release, scheduled for Saturday, accusing Israel of violating the deal and calling for it to fulfil its obligations.
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