President Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum: if Hamas does not release all hostages by noon on Saturday, he will call for the ceasefire in Gaza to be canceled.
Trump’s remarks, made Monday evening after signing executive orders in the Oval Office, add significant pressure to an already fragile truce between Israel and Hamas.
When asked whether the ceasefire deal should be canceled, Trump made it clear that the decision ultimately lies with Israel. However, he did not mince words about what he believes should happen if Hamas fails to meet its obligations.
“If all the Gaza hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 p.m., I would say cancel the ceasefire,” Trump stated. “Let all hell break out; Israel can override it.”
The former president further stressed that Hamas must release “all of them—not in drips and drabs,” making it clear that partial compliance would not be acceptable. Reiterating his stance, he added, “Saturday at 12 p.m., and after that, I would say, all hell is going to break out.”
Hamas Delays Hostage Release, Citing Alleged Israeli Violations
Trump’s comments come amid Hamas’ announcement that it will delay the next planned release of Israeli hostages, claiming Israel has violated the ceasefire agreement.
A Hamas spokesman accused Israel of failing to fulfill key provisions, including delaying the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, carrying out military strikes, and restricting humanitarian aid.
“Over the past three weeks, the resistance leadership has monitored the enemy’s violations and failure to fulfill its obligations under the agreement,” Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida said in a statement. “The release of the Zionist prisoners next Saturday will be postponed until further notice, and until the occupation commits to and provides compensation for the entitlements of the past weeks retroactively.”
Israel has denied these accusations and condemned Hamas’ decision to delay the exchange.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz called the move a “blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement and the hostage release deal,” warning that Israel’s military is prepared for any scenario. “I have instructed the IDF to maintain the highest level of readiness for any possible scenario in Gaza and to fortify the defense of Israeli communities,” Katz stated.
Ceasefire Deal Faces Collapse as Tensions Rise
The six-week ceasefire, which went into effect last month, was designed to facilitate the release of 33 hostages taken by Hamas during its deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. In exchange, Israel agreed to free nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. So far, five rounds of swaps have taken place, resulting in 21 hostages being released in exchange for over 730 Palestinian prisoners.
The upcoming exchange, originally scheduled for Saturday, was expected to see the release of three additional Israeli hostages in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. However, Hamas’ decision to delay the process has thrown the agreement into turmoil.
The delay follows the return of three emaciated Israeli hostages last Saturday—Eli Sharabi, 52; Or Levy, 34; and Ohad Ben Ami, 56—who appeared gaunt and frail. The men were reportedly forced to speak at a handover ceremony before being returned to Israel.
In response, Trump expressed outrage, comparing their appearance to Holocaust survivors and criticizing Hamas for their treatment.
“They looked like Holocaust survivors,” Trump said. “Like they haven’t had a meal in a month. I don’t know how much longer we can take that. You know, at some point, we’re gonna lose our patience.”
The situation in Gaza remains on the brink of renewed conflict. Israeli officials have signaled they will not tolerate further delays, and Trump’s declaration has only added to the pressure on both sides.
If Hamas fails to act by Saturday’s deadline, Trump has made his position clear: “Let all hell break out.” Whether Israel will follow through and abandon the ceasefire remains to be seen, but the countdown has begun.