No Israeli hostages by Saturday? Gaza ceasefire is over: Donald Trump warns Hamas

President Donald Trump on Monday said that if all hostages held in Gaza are not released by Saturday at noon, he would propose ending the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and letting “all hell break loose.”

Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump also said he might withhold aid to Jordan and Egypt if they refuse to take in Palestinian refugees from Gaza, news agency Reuters reported. Earlier in the day, he had said that Palestinians will not have the right to return to Gaza under his proposed US-led takeover plan, calling it a “real estate development for the future”.

His remarks came after Hamas announced it would stop releasing Israeli hostages until further notice. The militant organisation accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement, raising concerns that fighting could resume.

Under the agreement, Hamas was expected to release more hostages on Saturday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and detainees. This arrangement had been in place for the past three weeks.

After Hamas’ announcement, families of hostages and their supporters gathered in Tel Aviv in what has become known as Hostages Square.

“Every single person that doesn’t belong there needs to come home now,” said Shoshana Brickman, who joined the demonstration. “Every single person, all the hostages, all of them,” Brickman was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters in its report.

Hamas said it made the decision five days before the next scheduled hostage release to allow mediators time to press Israel to meet its obligations and ensure the exchange happens on time.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Hamas’ decision violated the ceasefire. He instructed the military to be at its highest level of readiness in Gaza and for domestic defence.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with his security cabinet on Tuesday morning. The cabinet includes ministers responsible for defence, national security and foreign affairs.

Two Egyptian security officials said mediators fear the agreement could collapse. Qatar and Egypt brokered the deal alongside the United States.

Sixteen of the 33 hostages set to be released in the first phase of the 42-day agreement have returned home. Five Thai hostages were also released in an unscheduled move.

Israel has released hundreds of prisoners and detainees in exchange, including those serving life sentences for deadly attacks and others held without charge.