The Hamas terrorist group on Tuesday dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand for the release of all remaining Israeli and American hostages from Gaza by noon on Saturday, or the ceasefire deal is over — and Israel can respond as it wants.
AP reports Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the dozens of hostages would only be returned if all parties remain committed to a ceasefire deal reached last month.
“Trump must remember there is an agreement that must be respected by both parties,” he cautioned, adding threatening language only complicates matters.
🚨 PRESIDENT TRUMP: "If all of the hostages are not returned by Saturday at 12 o'clock, I would say cancel it and all bets are off... All of them. Not in drips and drabs." pic.twitter.com/MozJATMKRy
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 10, 2025
Hamas has threatened to delay the next release of three Israeli hostages, due Saturday, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement, including by not allowing a surge of tents and shelters into the devastated territory.
Breitbart News reported Trump said the ceasefire should be canceled if Hamas doesn’t release all the remaining hostages it is holding in Gaza by midday on Saturday — though he also said that such a decision would be up to Israel.
File/Sami Abu Zuhri, senior spokesman of Hamas, warned U.S. President Donald Trump over terms for the release of hostages held by the terrorist group. (Yassine Gaidi/Anadolu Agency via Getty)
The agreement calls for the gradual release by the Hamas terrorists of dozens of hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
There are 73 hostages still in Gaza, 17 of whom were still slated to be released in the first phase. Not all of them are alive, and dozens would have remained in captivity until a “second phase” of the agreement.
