Hamas Rejects Trump’s Ceasefire Ultimatum, Demands Mutual Compliance for Hostage Releases

Hamas has dismissed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning about canceling the ceasefire if all Israeli hostages are not released by Saturday. The group insists that the truce must be respected by both sides for any further hostage releases to occur.

Trump made his remarks on Monday, saying, “If all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday 12 o’clock… I would say cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out.” His comments have fueled tensions at a time when negotiations over the hostage situation remain delicate.

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri responded on Tuesday, criticizing Trump’s approach.

“Trump must remember that there is an agreement that must be respected by both parties, and this is the only way to bring back the prisoners,” he said. “The language of threats has no value and only complicates matters.”

Hamas has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire by targeting Palestinians with airstrikes and gunfire while delaying the return of displaced residents to northern Gaza. The group also claims that Israel has failed to ensure the agreed flow of humanitarian aid into the region. However, a United Nations official reported that over 12,600 humanitarian aid trucks have entered Gaza since the ceasefire started.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has warned Hamas against delaying further hostage releases. He stated that any attempt to slow down the process would be considered a “complete violation” of the agreement. As a precaution, Israel has placed its military forces on high alert.

Since the ceasefire began last month, Hamas has released 21 hostages, while Israel has freed over 730 Palestinian prisoners. The next exchange is scheduled for Saturday, with three more Israeli hostages expected to be freed in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian detainees.

The future of the ceasefire remains uncertain. International pressure continues to mount on both sides to uphold their commitments and prevent further escalation of the conflict.

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