WASHINGTON, USA — President Donald Trump on Monday urged Israel to cancel its ceasefire with Hamas and “let all hell break out” if hostages still being held in Gaza are not returned by noon on Saturday.
The warning came after Hamas announced plans to postpone the next scheduled hostage release, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement.
Since the deal took effect, 16 of 33 hostages set for release have been freed by Hamas, while Israel has released 656 Palestinian prisoners from a list of nearly 2,000.
However, the agreement now appears in jeopardy.
“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 told reporters in the Oval Office after signing executive actions.
“I’d say they ought to be returned by 12 o’clock on Saturday, 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,” he added.
Pressed on what “all hell” might entail in Gaza, Trump responded, “You’ll find out, and they’ll find out — Hamas will find out what I mean.”
Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, played a key role in negotiating the ceasefire, which was finalized in the final weeks of President Joe Biden’s administration.
However, since taking office, Trump has cast doubt on the agreement’s durability and has proposed an alternative plan that would permanently displace Palestinians from Gaza while allowing the United States to take control of the strip.
A Plan for Gaza’s Future?
Trump’s comments on Monday reinforced his proposal that Palestinians should not have a right to return to Gaza under his vision to rebuild the war-torn enclave under U.S. authority.
“No, they wouldn’t,” Trump told Fox News when asked whether Palestinians would be allowed to return.
“Because they will have much better housing. Much better – in other words, I’m talking about building a permanent place for them.”
His suggestion has been met with sharp criticism from international leaders, including key U.S. allies.
During his Oval Office remarks, Trump also suggested that he might withhold aid from Jordan and Egypt if they refuse to accept Palestinian refugees.
“Yeah, maybe, sure why not?” Trump said when asked whether he would consider cutting U.S. assistance to the two countries. “If they don’t, I would conceivably withhold aid, yes.”
Jordanian King Abdullah is scheduled to meet with Trump at the White House on Tuesday, though Jordan and Egypt have already publicly rejected Trump’s proposal.
Conflicting Signals from the Administration
The president’s statements have added further uncertainty to the ongoing ceasefire process, which was brokered with mediation from Qatar and Egypt.
After Trump first outlined his plan for Gaza last week, some administration officials sought to clarify or soften its details.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt framed Trump’s plan as a temporary measure, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking during a trip to Latin America, described it as a short-term resettlement effort meant to facilitate Gaza’s rebuilding.
“What he very generously has offered is the ability of the United States to go in and help with debris removal, help with munitions removal, help with reconstruction — the rebuilding of homes and businesses and things of this nature, so that then people can move back in,” Rubio said.
Yet Trump himself has doubled down on his proposal, framing it as a long-term strategic move.
“I think that it’s a big mistake to allow people — the Palestinians, or the people living in Gaza — to go back yet another time, and we don’t want Hamas going back. And think of it as a big real estate site, and the United States is going to own it, and we’ll slowly – very slowly, we’re in no rush – develop it,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he travelled to the Super Bowl on Sunday.
He reiterated to Fox News that under his plan, the U.S. would “own” Gaza.
“We’ll build safe communities a little bit away from where they are, where all of this danger is and in the meantime, I would own this. Think of it as a real estate development for the future. It would be a beautiful piece of land,” he said.
Growing Tensions Over Ceasefire
As the deadline for the next hostage release looms, tensions between Israel and Hamas continue to escalate.
Hamas claims that Israel has violated the ceasefire by attacking Palestinians, delaying the return of displaced people, and preventing aid from entering Gaza.
The Gaza health ministry has reported that 92 people have been killed in Israeli military operations since the truce took effect.
Israel has denied violating the agreement and has accused Hamas of acting in bad faith by delaying the hostage release.
Defense Minister Israel Katz called Hamas’ postponement “a complete violation of the ceasefire agreement.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a meeting with security and political officials on Tuesday to discuss the next steps.
Katz announced that Israel’s military has been placed on high alert, with reinforcements being sent to southern Israel in anticipation of possible renewed conflict.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key member of Netanyahu’s coalition, has already threatened to quit the government if Israel does not resume military operations once the first phase of the ceasefire ends.
