Israel Threatens Military Action In Gaza If Hostage Release Delayed

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz emphasized that the ceasefire was intended to ensure the swift release of hostages held in difficult conditions in Gaza.

Israel has called up military reservists to brace itself for a potential re-eruption of war in Gaza if Hamas does not meet the Saturday deadline to release additional Israeli hostages. 

According to a report by Reuters, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz emphasized that the ceasefire was intended to ensure the swift release of hostages held in difficult conditions in Gaza. He stated, "If Hamas stops the hostage releases, then there is no ceasefire and there is war," during remarks at Israeli defence headquarters in Tel Aviv.

Katz added that "the new Gaza war" will be of another intensity altogether and "allow the realisation of Trump's vision for Gaza". Earlier, Trump had said all hostages must be freed by noon on Saturday or he would "let hell break out".

The escalating tensions and the potential collapse of the truce, as anger mounts in the Arab world over President Donald Trump’s controversial plan. Trump proposed for the United States to take over Gaza, resettle its Palestinian inhabitants, and develop an international beach resort. It has drawn widespread criticism, further complicating the fragile situation.

Hamas said Egypt and Qatar, which with US support mediated the ceasefire deal that took effect on January 19, had stepped up efforts to break the impasse and the Palestinian militant group's Gaza chief, Khalil Al-Hayya, arrived in Cairo for talks.

Hamas accused Israel of violating the agreement and said it would postpone Saturday’s hostage release “until further notice”.

On Tuesday, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to end the ceasefire and resume “intense fighting”, if Hamas stops the release of hostages over Saturday. Netanyahu said he had ordered the military to gather forces in and around Gaza, and the military announced it was deploying additional forces to Israel's south, near Gaza, including mobilising reservists.

As per Reuters, in a White House meeting between Trump and Jordan's King Abdullah on Tuesday, the US president asked him to ensure Hamas understood the "severity of the situation" if hostages were not freed by Saturday.