Update(19:39ET): Amid reports that Hamas has paused the next round of Israeli hostage releases, while accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire, President Trump in his latest words has warned “all hell is going to break out” if the Islamist group doesn’t release all the remaining hostages:
President Donald Trump said Monday that a precarious ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas should be canceled if Hamas doesn’t release all the remaining hostages it is holding in Gaza by midday on Saturday — though he also acknowledged that such a decision would be up to Israel.
In comments to reporters after signing a series of executive orders, Trump said, “If they’re not here, all hell is going to break out” and said he feared many scheduled for release are actually already dead
He did add the caveat that “I’m speaking for myself. Israel can override it.”
The timeline and deadline is interesting, given Hamas is unlikely to obey dictates coming from Washington. To a large degree there has already been “hell to pay” in the course of the war in the Gaza Strip. Hamas at this point has less to lose than before, as much of the Strip is already obliterated and in ruins.
Hamas has announced Monday it is suspending the release of hostages planned for Saturday until further notice due to “Israeli violations” and amid international backlash at Trump’s proposed plan to “take over” Gaza which would block a Palestinian ‘right of return’.
The last three emaciated-looking Israeli hostages were freed on Saturday in exchange for over 180 Palestinians released from Israeli jails. The Israeli captives have been held for over 490 days. Since the ceasefire took effect last month 21 people have freed by Hamas and Islamic Jihad – 16 of them Israelis and five Thai citizens. Victims’ families in Israel are desperately hoping more will be freed according to plan.
Until now the truce was looking promising, and is on the brink of entering a second phase of the deal, given the Israeli military this weekend withdrew from from the Netzarim Corridor, which cuts Gaza in half, allowing tens of thousands of Gazans to return to the north and move more freely.