Israel’s security cabinet has fully backed President Donald Trump’s demand that Hamas release all its hostages by noon on Saturday or face severe consequences, including an end to the ceasefire and resumption of intense combat.
According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, if Hamas fails to return the hostages by the deadline, the ceasefire will be cancelled, and the IDF will resume full-scale operations against Hamas until the group is decisively defeated.
Trump had made a similar demand earlier in the week, stating that he would cancel the ceasefire and allow “all hell to break out” if Hamas did not release all the hostages by Saturday. The US President believes that Hamas will listen to his demands.
The six-week ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has seen five prisoner exchanges since its inception, freeing 21 Israeli hostages and over 730 Palestinian prisoners. However, the next exchange is set for next Saturday, with three more Israeli hostages due to be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas had announced that it would delay the next release of Israeli hostages, prompting Netanyahu’s security cabinet meeting and the decision to demand their immediate release. The Israeli government has amassed forces around the Gaza Strip in preparation for a potential operation.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/world/israeli-cabinet-backs-trumps-demand-hamas-release-all-hostages-saturday-deadline