Donald Trump threatens end to Gaza ceasefire if Israeli prisoners not released 

Washington (Web Desk): US President Donald Trump stated on Monday that if all hostages being held in Gaza are not released by noon on Saturday, he would propose ending the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, allowing the situation to escalate further.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump also warned that he might stop aid to both Jordan and Egypt if they refuse to take in Palestinian refugees being moved from Gaza.

Earlier on Monday, Hamas declared that it would halt the release of Israeli hostages until further notice, citing Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement. This announcement raised fears of reigniting hostilities. Hamas had previously planned to release additional Israeli hostages on Saturday, continuing the exchange of prisoners as agreed upon in the ceasefire deal.

Following the unexpected development, families of the hostages and their supporters gathered in Tel Aviv, demanding that the government ensure the return of all the captives.

"Every single person that doesn’t belong there needs to come home now," said Shoshana Brickman, one of the protesters, who joined a crowd of around 2,000 people in the impromptu demonstration.

Hamas explained that the delay in releasing the hostages was a response to Israeli breaches of the ceasefire, and it hoped this would apply pressure on Israel to uphold its part of the agreement.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire and instructed the military to be on high alert both in Gaza and within Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was set to meet with security officials on Tuesday to discuss the matter.

Mediators, including Egypt and Qatar, expressed concerns about the ceasefire potentially unraveling, given the heightened tensions. So far, 16 of the 33 hostages scheduled for release in the first phase of the deal have been returned, along with five Thai nationals who were released early. In return, Israel has freed hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including individuals serving life sentences for deadly attacks.

Hamas has accused Israel of not adhering to the terms of the ceasefire, particularly regarding the movement of Palestinians back to northern Gaza and the continued flow of humanitarian aid. Conversely, Israel denies these claims, arguing that it has allowed humanitarian assistance and that Hamas has manipulated the process to create public spectacles when handing over hostages.

Furthermore, Israel has rejected requests from the United Nations (UN) and other parties to send temporary housing to Gaza, citing concerns over security and the risk of aid being misused.

Hamas claims that Israel has blocked the entry of tens of thousands of mobile homes and essential construction equipment, hindering efforts to address the destruction caused by the conflict.

In addition to the ongoing ceasefire issues, Trump's comments about the future of Gaza have stirred controversy.

He suggested that Palestinians should be relocated from Gaza and that the area could eventually be developed as a real estate project under U.S. oversight. Trump argued that Palestinians would not have a right to return to Gaza, as it would take years before the region could be rebuilt.

His proposal has sparked mixed reactions, including support from Netanyahu, who expressed approval of Trump's ideas.

In recent developments, an Israeli delegation returned from talks in Qatar without providing details about their discussions. The delegation had been negotiating the next phase of the ceasefire deal, which is now in jeopardy due to the latest breakdown in talks. A Palestinian official involved in the negotiations confirmed that mistrust between the two sides had stalled progress.

The emotional toll of the hostage situation has also been evident, as images of released Israeli hostages in poor physical condition, including Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi, and Or Levy, shocked the Israeli public.

A recent Israeli poll showed that 67% of Israelis were in favor of moving forward with the next phase of the agreement, while 19% opposed it. This poll was conducted before Hamas announced its decision to suspend further hostage releases.