If Israel's Demands Are Not Met, Military Operations in Gaza Will Resume: Netanyahu

The Israeli army will resume intense military operations in the Gaza Strip if the Palestinian Hamas movement does not release Israeli hostages by noon on February 15. This announcement was made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following a four-hour meeting with key ministers from the security cabinet.

“My decision, which was unanimously approved by the cabinet, is as follows: if Hamas does not return our hostages by noon on Saturday, the ceasefire will be canceled, and the Israel Defense Forces will resume intense military operations until Hamas is ultimately defeated,” Netanyahu stated, as reported by TASS based on announcements from the Prime Minister's office.

However, he did not specify how many hostages Israel is demanding to be released by Saturday.

Speaking about the security cabinet meeting, Netanyahu noted that all participants expressed “outrage over the horrific conditions of the three Israeli hostages who were released on February 8.”

“We all welcomed President Donald Trump’s demand to release our hostages by Saturday lunch, as well as the president’s revolutionary vision for the future of Gaza,” the Prime Minister added, commenting on the president's proposal to relocate Palestinians from the enclave to other countries.