Netanyahu threatens — ‘IDF will resume intense fighting’ if hostages not released by Saturday

Following the ultimatum by U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday, calling for all hostages to be released by Saturday at noon or the ceasefire would be called off, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed that call on Tuesday evening. 

"I have just finished an in-depth, four-hour Security Cabinet meeting. We all expressed outrage over the shocking state of our three hostages who were released last Saturday,” Netanyahu said in an official statement. 

“We all welcomed President Trump's demand to release our hostages by Saturday noon as well, and we all welcomed the President's revolutionary vision for the future of Gaza,” the prime minister continued. 

Netanyahu warned that the IDF is preparing for a resumption of hostilities if the hostages are not released. 

“In light of Hamas's announcement regarding its decision to violate the agreement and not release our hostages, last night I instructed the IDF to amass forces inside – and surrounding – the Gaza Strip. This action is being carried out at this hour and will be completed very soon.” 

Netanyahu then issued his own ultimatum. “The unanimous decision that I passed in the Cabinet is as follows:  If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF will resume intense fighting until the final defeat of Hamas.” 

The IDF announced an increase in alert status and troop numbers is in preparation. 

“In accordance with the situational assessment and the decision to raise the level of readiness in the Southern Command, it was decided to increase reinforcements with additional troops, including reservists,” the military announced. “The reinforcements of troops and mobilization of reservists are being carried out in preparation for various scenarios.” 

Trump’s unexpected ultimatum caused some political chaos within Israel, and led the Israeli government to release a series of statements showing the government’s attempt to grapple with the newly changing situation. 

Initially, the Israeli government announced that it would be satisfied with the release of the three hostages due to be set free according to the original agreement. 

“All cabinet members expressed support for US President Donald Trump’s demand for the release of our hostages by noon on Shabbat,” the statement said. 

Later, the government hardened its position and demanded the release of the nine remaining living hostages from the first phase. An Israeli official announced that Israel would not continue with negotiations regarding the second phase of the deal unless all nine hostages were released. 

“Hamas violated the agreement,” the official said, “and therefore there will not be progress in continuing to carry out the agreement or in negotiations on the second stage without the return of our hostages.” 

Finally, a senior political source declared that Israel would “adhere to the announcement of the President of the United States that they [the hostages] will all leave on Shabbat.” 

In his public statement, released Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Netanyahu did not specify the number of hostages to be released. Israeli analysts believe this was a deliberate choice, in order to apply maximum pressure on Hamas in order to secure the release of the nine surviving hostages from the first phase. 

An Israeli told Ynet news that Netanyahu’s statement was deliberately vague, in order to see how Hamas responds. 

“We want to see how Hamas responds to this,” the official said. “There’s a reason Netanyahu didn’t give a number.” 

There are concerns in the security establishment that Netanyahu’s actions could cause a collapse of the ceasefire deal before the end of the first phase. 

“We need to show restraint right now in order to complete the first stage to the end. We must not break the dynamic of returning the hostages,” defense officials said, according to Channel 12 news. “The mechanism is working, the mediators are guarantors of the agreement, and there is no real reason to interrupt the continuity at the moment.” 

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called on Prime Minister Netanyahu “to inform Hamas unequivocally: Either all the hostages are released by Saturday - the beatings are over, the games are over, or the gates of hell will be opened on them, and that means no electricity, no water, no fuel, no humanitarian aid. There is only fire and brimstone from our planes, artillery, tanks, and our heroic fighters.”