Donald Trump on Monday called for the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal to be cancelled if Hamas doesn’t release all remaining hostages by noon Saturday.
“As far as I’m concerned, if all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock — I think it’s an appropriate time — I would say cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office after signing executive orders.
“And if they’re not returned — all of them, not in drips and drabs, not two, and one, and three, and four and two. Saturday at 12 o’clock. And after that, I would say all hell is going to break out,”
When asked what that means, Trump replied, “Hamas will find out what I mean.”
Hamas, after accusing Israel of violating the mid-January ceasefire agreement through shelling in Gaza and insufficient aid, said earlier Monday it would be delaying the release of three hostages.
The agreement stipulates that Israel withdraw its military from Gaza in the next few weeks. Prime Minister BenJamin Netanyahu, however, has claimed it would not do so until Hamas is destroyed.
Trump has said the U.S. would be taking over and “developing” Gaza—a proposal Arab nations have pushed back against, especially since Palestinians wouldn’t be able to return.
