U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday (February 10) urged Israel to cancel its ceasefire agreement with Hamas and escalate military action if all hostages held in Gaza are not returned by noon on Saturday.
“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,” Trump declared to reporters in the Oval Office after signing executive actions.
He emphasized that all hostages must be released at once, not in small groups. “Saturday at 12 o’clock, and after that, I would say, all hell is going to break out,” he warned. When pressed on what that might entail, Trump responded, “You’ll find out, and they’ll find out — Hamas will find out what I mean.”
Hamas Accuses Israel Of Violating Ceasefire
Trump’s remarks came after Hamas threatened to delay the next scheduled hostage release, originally set for Saturday, accusing Israel of breaking the ceasefire deal. The ceasefire, brokered in the final days of former U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration, has remained fragile under Trump’s leadership.
Despite his hardline stance, Trump expressed skepticism about the number of hostages still alive, stating, “I think a lot of the hostages are dead.”
Trump’s Controversial Gaza Plan Sparks Backlash
Beyond the immediate crisis, Trump has proposed a controversial plan for Gaza’s future, asserting that the United States should take control of the territory and rebuild it. In a recent interview, he explicitly stated that Palestinians would not have the right to return under his plan.
“No, they wouldn’t,” he told Fox News when asked whether displaced Palestinians could return to Gaza. “Because they will have much better housing. Much better – in other words, I’m talking about building a permanent place for them.”
Trump’s comments have already drawn sharp international criticism, particularly from Arab nations, as he doubled down on the idea that Palestinians should be relocated. The proposal has been met with strong opposition, including from Jordan and Egypt, whose leaders have rejected any suggestion of resettling Palestinian refugees within their borders.
Threat To Withhold Aid From Jordan And Egypt
On Monday, ahead of a scheduled meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah, Trump suggested that U.S. aid to Jordan and Egypt could be cut if they refuse to accept Palestinian refugees.
“Yeah, maybe, sure why not?” Trump said when asked about the possibility of withholding funds. “If they don’t, I would conceivably withhold aid, yes.”
His remarks reinforced previous suggestions that he could leverage financial assistance to secure cooperation from regional allies. “I think I could make a deal with Jordan. I think I could make a deal with Egypt. We give them billions and billions of dollars a year,” he told Fox News.
Internal Confusion Over Gaza Strategy
Trump’s plan has also caused uncertainty within his own administration. Some officials, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have sought to clarify that any resettlement from Gaza would be temporary. However, Trump himself has repeatedly framed the proposal as a long-term redevelopment project.
“It’s a big mistake to allow people — the Palestinians, or the people living in Gaza — to go back yet another time,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday. “Think of it as a big real estate site, and the United States is going to own it.”
As tensions escalate, Trump’s approach to the crisis is raising alarm both domestically and internationally, with critics warning that his rhetoric and policies could further destabilize the region.
