Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel convened an emergency cabinet meeting on Tuesday following Hamas's announcement to postpone the next release of Israeli hostages from the Gaza Strip, intensifying the strain on an already delicate three-week cease-fire.
The security cabinet was expected to discuss the future of ongoing negotiations aimed at securing the safe release of all hostages this spring. The meeting commenced shortly after midday in Jerusalem, according to three Israeli officials.
Prior to the meeting, relatives of the hostages blocked a major highway in Israel, displaying protest signs and using orange smoke bombs. While one family celebrated receiving a proof-of-life message regarding 27-year-old twins Gali and Ziv Berman, another family learned that 86-year-old Shlomo Mantzur, the oldest hostage, had been killed.
Netanyahu expedited Tuesday’s meeting after Hamas declared on Monday that it would indefinitely delay the release of several hostages initially scheduled for Saturday, citing Israeli violations of the cease-fire agreement.
Later that night, former President Trump issued a stark ultimatum, demanding the release of all remaining hostages by noon on Saturday or face severe consequences.
Since the cease-fire began, only a small number of Israeli hostages have been released each week, coinciding with the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails as part of the initial phase of the negotiated deal.
To date, 16 of the 33 Israeli hostages have been released, as stipulated in the first part of the agreement, which is set to expire in early March. Approximately 60 additional hostages, some believed to be deceased, are to be released in a second phase lasting six weeks.
However, some Israeli officials are hesitant to proceed with the second phase of the deal, which would involve discussions on ending the 15-month conflict, advocating instead for continued military action against Hamas to expedite the rescue of hostages.
Far-right lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir expressed support for military action on social media, stating, “Trump is right! Go back and destroy now!”
Conversely, others argue for the continuation of negotiations, facilitated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, as the only viable means to ensure the hostages' safety and achieve lasting peace.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid urged the Israeli government to act swiftly, stating, “The sign of life from twins Gali and Ziv Berman is a wake-up call this morning... Netanyahu, go to Doha. Bring everyone home. Time is running out.”
Hamas's delay announcement followed Trump's controversial remarks suggesting the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza to Jordan and Egypt, a proposal that has been condemned as a potential war crime under international law.
In a Fox News interview, Trump stated that the two million Palestinians in Gaza would not have the right to return, claiming they would receive better housing elsewhere.
In response, Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri emphasized the need for both sides to adhere to the agreement, stating, “Trump should remember that there is an agreement that must be respected by both sides, and this is the only path for the hostages’ return.”
The proposal to forcibly relocate Gazans has faced widespread rejection from Palestinians, Arab nations, and some European allies of the United States.
King Abdullah II of Jordan was scheduled to meet with Trump in Washington on Tuesday, while plans for an upcoming visit by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi appear to have been canceled, according to Arab media reports.
During a phone call with Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Sisi reaffirmed the importance of continuing negotiations for the release of hostages and humanitarian aid, emphasizing the need to rebuild Gaza without displacing its Palestinian population.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern over the potential collapse of the cease-fire, urging both sides to fulfill their commitments and resume serious negotiations to avoid further tragedy in Gaza.