US President Trump Threatens to Cancel Gaza Ceasefire Deal if Hostages Not Released by Saturday
Washingon, Feb 11 (Bernama-Anadolu) – US President Donald Trump has proposed the cancellation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas if all the hostages in the Strip are not released by Saturday, according to Anadolu Ajansi.
In a press briefing at the Oval Office, Trump stated, "As far as I’m concerned, if all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 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. I’d say they ought to be returned by 12 o’clock on Saturday."
He emphasized, "And if they’re not returned — all of them, not in drips and drabs, not two and one and three and four and two – by Saturday at 12 o’clock. And after that, I would say, all hell is going to break out."
Trump also hinted at potential retaliation from Israel, saying, "You’ll find out, and they’ll find out too. Hamas will find out what I mean."
The US President also warned that he would consider canceling aid to Jordan and Egypt if they do not accept Palestinians being relocated from Gaza.
Trump’s Meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II
Trump is expected to meet with Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Tuesday in Washington, DC, amid heightened tensions over the president’s proposal to relocate Gazans to Jordan and Egypt.
The president believes that Palestinians would love to leave Gaza if they could find a safe place to live, stating, "They would love to leave Gaza if they could find a place to be. And I’ve spoken to various leaders of various countries in the not-so-distant area from where we’re talking about, the Gaza Strip, and I think they were very positive about providing land. What we need is land, and if we could build a nice place for people to live safely."
Gaza’s Current Situation
The three-phase ceasefire deal has been in place in Gaza since January 19, halting Israel’s genocidal war, which has killed over 48,000 people and left the enclave in ruins.
In the first phase of the truce, 33 Israeli hostages are to be released in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners. The sixth Israeli-Hamas swap was scheduled for this week.
International Reactions
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
Conclusion
The situation in Gaza remains precarious, with the ceasefire deal hanging in the balance. The world waits with bated breath to see if the US President’s ultimatum will be met, and if the fragile truce will hold. Only time will tell.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the US President’s position on the Gaza ceasefire deal?
A: The US President has proposed the cancellation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement if all the hostages in the Strip are not released by Saturday.
Q: What are the conditions for the release of the hostages?
A: The hostages are to be released in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners.
Q: What is the current situation in Gaza?
A: The three-phase ceasefire deal has been in place in Gaza since January 19, halting Israel’s genocidal war, which has killed over 48,000 people and left the enclave in ruins.