After Hamas’s announcement, on Tuesday, the US president – who was central in securing the deal – said, 1. “If all the Gaza hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 p.m., I would say cancel the ceasefire. 2. Let all hell break loose; 3. Israel can override it.”
In the meantime, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assembled the security cabinet for an urgent meeting on Tuesday to discuss potential next steps.
1. “If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end, 2. and the IDF will resume intense fighting until Hamas is decisively defeated,” 16 months intense fighting
Shortly after Netanyahu’s remarks, the military said additional troops, including reservists, were being deployed to the Southern Command.
Both Netanyahu and Trump were seemingly ambiguous regarding the number of hostages that would be returned.
Then, on Wednesday, Trump told King Abdullah of Jordan at the White House that 1. Hamas must release all hostages, including all Americans, by Saturday 2. and asked for the king’s assistance in ensuring that Hamas and leaders of the region understand the severity of the situation
