Netanyahu threatens Gaza cease-fire end; Trump vows to ‘take’ Gaza under US control
United States President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., United States on February 04, 2025. (AA Photo)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened Tuesday evening to end the Gaza cease-fire if Hamas does not release hostages by Saturday noon.
“If Hamas does not return our hostages by noon on Saturday, the cease-fire will be terminated, and the Israeli army will return to intense fighting until Hamas is finally defeated,” Netanyahu said in a video statement following a four-hour security cabinet meeting.
Netanyahu also announced that he had instructed the Israeli army to mobilize forces inside and around the Gaza Strip, signaling a potential resumption of hostilities.
The prime minister’s threat coincided with a statement from Hamas, which announced a delay in the next hostage release in response to what it described as Israeli violations of the cease-fire agreement.
Palestinian authorities have accused Israel of multiple cease-fire breaches, including the shooting of civilians and restricting access to relief materials, such as tents and caravans for displaced civilians in Gaza.
‘We’re going to cherish it,’ says Trump
Meanwhile, coinciding with Netanyahu’s Gaza threats, President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States will “take” control of the besieged Gaza Strip as he hosted Jordan’s King Abdullah at the White House.
Trump insisted that his controversial plan to take ownership of Gaza would proceed, stating, “We’re going to run it very properly. We’re going to take it, we’re going to hold it, we’re going to cherish it.”
Trump outlined his vision for Gaza, suggesting the construction of hotels, office buildings, and housing to transform the coastal enclave.
He was less forthcoming, however, when asked about his earlier threats to withhold U.S. aid if nations declined to resettle the roughly 2 million Palestinians he plans to displace under his proposal.
Earlier, Trump stated 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 February 15. “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, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office.
