Donald Trump says Gaza ceasefire should be cancelled if all Israeli hostages are not returned

United States President Donald Trump on Monday said that he would propose cancelling the ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas if all Israeli hostages were not returned by February 15, AFP reported.

“As far as I’m concerned, if all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday [February 15] 12 o’clock – I think it’s an appropriate time – I would say cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out,” Trump told mediapersons at the White House.

Hamas, however, said that all Israeli hostages can be brought back home from Gaza only if the ceasefire is respected.

“Trump must remember that there is an agreement that must be respected by both parties, and this is the only way to bring back the prisoners,” Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said, according to Reuters. “The language of threats has no value and only complicates matters.”

The first six-week phase of the Gaza ceasefire began on January 19 and involves the exchange of 33 hostages for hundreds of Palestinian detainees. Hamas has so far released 16 Israeli hostages while 566 Palestinian prisoners have been freed.

Earlier on Monday, a spokesperson for Hamas’ armed wing said that the next hostage release scheduled for February 15 would be postponed till further notice “pending the…

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