Following the release of three hostages, including one with an American, President Donald Trump restated his demand that all Israeli captives must be released from Gaza today.
“Hamas has just released three Hostages from GAZA, including an American Citizen. They seem to be in good shape! This differs from their statement last week that they would not release any Hostages,” The president wrote on his Truth Social account.
The post continued, “Israel will now have to decide what they will do about the 12:00 O’CLOCK, TODAY, DEADLINE imposed on the release of ALL HOSTAGES. The United States will back the decision they make!”
Tel Aviv may view Trump’s post as a greenlight to break the ceasefire and resume its onslaught in Gaza. Israeli army chief Herzi Halevi said Saturday that it is his “duty to bring everyone back,” and the IDF is “investing in many efforts for this purpose, and at the same time, we are preparing offensive plans.”
Trump is restating a threat he made on Monday. “If all the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock, I think it’s an appropriate time. I would say cancel it, and all bets are off. Let hell break out,” he said.
Trump issued the threat after Hamas said it would display the hostage release scheduled for February 15 because Israel was not abiding by the ceasefire agreement. Since the deal went into effect on January 19, Israel has killed around 100 Palestinians in Gaza. Additionally, Tel Aviv is not letting in the amount of aid that was promised under the deal.
Construction equipment to begin clearing debris, mobile homes, and tents were all pledged to be allowed into Gaza during the ceasefire and hostage deal. However, Israeli officials speaking with the New York Times confirmed that Tel Aviv was not living up to its end of the deal.
On Thursday, Hamas walked back its plan to withhold future hostage releases until Israel complies with the deal.
While it was Trump’s envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff that pushed the hostage exchange and ceasefire deal across the finish line, Israel is now failing to comply with the agreement and Hamas is continuing to release hostages.
It is unclear why Trump set Saturday as the deadline to release all hostages. Under the deal, captives on both sides were agreed to be released slowly over the first two phases of the agreement that would take several months.
Last week, Trump appeared disturbed over the gaunt look of the Israeli hostages that were released by Hamas. While the American media and political class has focused on the status of the Israeli hostages, Palestinians detainees have also been released in ill health, and have additionally been subjected to severe beating.
One released Palestinian told Al-Jazeera, “The Israelis told us to ‘Welcome to hell.’ It was a hell,” he said. “From the first day, we were beaten badly. The beatings were brutal, tough and unbearable.”
Israel has also harassed the freed Palestinians and their families. Shortly after the release on Saturday, Israeli forces raided the homes of one of the freed men.
Kyle Anzalone is the opinion editor of Antiwar.com and news editor of the Libertarian Institute. He hosts The Kyle Anzalone Show and is co-host of Conflicts of Interest with Connor Freeman.
