By Mike Bain- The Daily Examiner.
US President Donald Trump has delivered an ultimatum to Hamas, saying “all hell is going to break out” if all Israeli hostages are not returned in the coming days.
A spokesman for the armed wing of Hamas says the group is postponing the next scheduled release of Israeli hostages, blaming what he says are Israeli violations of the ceasefire deal.
Three hostages held in Gaza are due to be freed on Saturday in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz called the Hamas announcement a “complete violation of the ceasefire agreement”.
Mr. Trump says the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas should be scrapped if this is not achieved by this coming Saturday.
Speaking from the White House after signing a series of executive orders, the commander in chief demanded the freedom of the 76 captives by Saturday midday.
“As far as I’m concerned, if all the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12pm, I think it’s an appropriate time, I would say cancel it (the ceasefire), all bets are off and let hell break out,” he told reporters on Monday amid Hamas pausing hostage releases.
“I’m speaking for myself,” he stressed. “Israel can override it.”
Seventy-three hostages taken during Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, and three others taken a decade earlier, are still being held in Gaza.
