Trump suggests canceling Gaza cease-fire if hostages not released by Feb. 15

U.S. President Donald Trump said that the Gaza cease-fire between Israel and Hamas should be canceled if all hostages held in the enclave are not released by noon on Feb. 15.

Trump sets deadline for hostage release

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump issued a firm ultimatum regarding the ongoing cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, stating that all hostages must be returned by the specified deadline.

“As far as I’m concerned if all of 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 and let hell break out,” Trump said. “I’d say they ought to be returned by 12 o’clock on Saturday.”

Trump added that any partial releases would not be acceptable. “And if they’re not returned—all of them, not in drips and drabs, not two and one and three and four and two—Saturday at 12 o’clock. And after that, I would say, all hell is going to break out.”

Concerns over hostage conditions

Trump expressed doubt over the fate of many of the hostages, suggesting that some may already be dead.

“I would say, Saturday at 12, we want them all back. I’m speaking for myself. Israel can override it, but from myself, Saturday at 12 o’clock, and if they’re not here, all hell is going to break out,” he warned.

When asked about an American hostage still held in Gaza, Trump called for the release of all captives. “They’re not going to be alive right now, based on what I saw over the last two days. They’re not going to be for long,” he said. “Saturday at 12 o’clock, and after that, it’s going to be a different ball game.”

Unclear on US response

When asked if his statement implied Israeli retaliation, Trump was vague. “You’ll find out, and they’ll find out too. Hamas will find out what I mean,” he said. “These are sick people, and they’ll find out what I mean Saturday at 12.”

Regarding potential U.S. involvement in any response after the deadline, Trump said: “We’ll see what happens.”

Possible aid cuts to Jordan and Egypt

Trump also signaled a possible shift in U.S. foreign aid policy, suggesting he could cut financial assistance to Jordan and Egypt if they refuse to accept Palestinian refugees from Gaza.

“Yeah, maybe. Sure, why not? If they don’t, I would conceivably withhold aid, yes,” he said.

Asked how he would persuade Jordan’s King Abdullah II to accept more Palestinian refugees, Trump said: “I do think he’ll take, and I think other countries will take also. They have good hearts.”

Proposed relocation of Palestinians

Trump reiterated his belief that many Palestinians would willingly leave Gaza if given the opportunity.

“We’ve spoken to a lot of Palestinians. They would love to leave Gaza if they could find a place to be. And I’ve spoken to various leaders of various countries in the not-so-distant area from where we’re talking about, the Gaza Strip, and I think they were very positive about providing land… and if we could build a nice place for people to live safely, everybody in Gaza would do it,” he said.

“They’ve been persecuted. They’ve been spit on, they’ve been treated like trash. And they would love to get out of Gaza. But until now, they’ve never had an alternative. Now they have an alternative,” he continued.

Palestinian right to return denied

In a separate interview with Fox News, Trump suggested that Palestinians displaced from Gaza would not have the right to return under his proposed plan.

“No, they wouldn’t, because they’re going to have much better housing,” he said. “In other words, I’m talking about building a permanent place for them because if they have to return now, it’ll be years before you could ever—it’s not habitable.”

The remarks are expected to generate strong reactions from Palestinian leaders and international observers.