Call off Gaza truce if Hamas steps back: Trump to Israel
Of the hostages yet to be released from Gaza under this phase of the ceasefire, Israel has said eight are dead.
PTI
-
President Donald Trump said that the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas should be cancelled if Hamas does not release all remaining hostages it is holding in Gaza
Washington, 11 Feb
President Donald Trump said Monday that the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas should be cancelled if Hamas does not release all remaining hostages it is holding in Gaza by midday on Saturday – though he also said that such a decision would be up to Israel.
Trump was responding to Hamas accusing Israel of violating the three-week-old ceasefire and announcing that it will delay the further release of hostages in the Gaza Strip.
The US president said that after the freeing of three visibly emaciated hostages on Saturday it was time for Israel to demand the release of all hostages by noon on Saturday, or restart the war.
“If they're not here, all hell is going to break out," Trump said. He added of the ceasefire, “Cancel it, and all bets are off.”
Trump, however, said the final decision would be up to Israel, saying, “I'm speaking for myself. Israel can override it.”
When asked if the US would join in a response to Hamas if hostages were not freed, Trump said, "Hamas will find out what I mean.”
Meanwhile, the Hamas announcement has brought new dismay for Israelis who watched the latest Hamas handover of hostages in growing horror over the weekend as the three emaciated men came into sight.
Of the hostages yet to be released from Gaza under this phase of the ceasefire, Israel has said eight are dead.
The next handover of three hostages had been scheduled for Saturday, and families say time is running out for those still alive. Israel now awaits the outcome of a security Cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, moved up in response to Monday's Hamas announcement.
The uncertainty, just over halfway into the ceasefire's six-week first phase, complicates talks on the far more difficult phase that were meant to begin a week ago.
Share Now
Leave a Reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Other Stories
.jpg)
.jpg)
