JERUSALEM, 12 FEB

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday threatened to withdraw from the ceasefire in Gaza and directed troops to prepare to resume fighting Hamas if the militant group does not release more hostages on Saturday.

Hamas first said on Monday and reiterated on Tuesday that it planned to delay the release of three more hostages after accusing Israel of failing to meet the terms of the ceasefire, including by not allowing an agreed-upon number of tents and other aid into Gaza.

Amid the mounting tensions, US President Donald Trump emboldened Israel to call for the release of even more remaining hostages on Saturday.

After meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II at the White House on Tuesday, Trump predicted Hamas would not release all remaining hostages as he had demanded.

“I don't think they're going to make the deadline, personally,” the president said of Hamas. “They want to play tough guy. We'll see how tough they are.”

Since the ceasefire took effect, Hamas has released 21 hostages for more than 730 Palestinian prisoners. A second phase calls for the return of all remaining hostages and an indefinite extension of the truce. However, Trump's statements about the pending releases and plans for post-war Gaza have shaken its fragile architecture.