Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that Israel will withdraw from the current ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and resume its military operations against Hamas if the militant group fails to proceed with the next scheduled release of hostages on Saturday.

Netanyahu’s warning comes as tensions rise over the fragile ceasefire. In a statement, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged the Prime Minister to take a hard stance against Hamas.

"Inform Hamas unequivocally: Either all the hostages are released by Saturday — no more phases, no more games — or we open the gates of hell on them," Smotrich said.

An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter, confirmed that Netanyahu has ordered the military to bolster its presence in and around the Gaza Strip. The official stated that the Prime Minister had also instructed security and military officials "to prepare for every scenario if Hamas doesn’t release our hostages this Saturday."

It remains unclear whether Netanyahu's directive applies to all remaining hostages or only to the three individuals scheduled for release on Saturday.

Ceasefire agreement at risk

The ceasefire, which was implemented as part of a phased hostage-prisoner exchange deal, is now facing a major challenge. Hamas has accused Israel of violating the terms of the agreement, particularly by not allowing the agreed-upon number of tents and shelters into Gaza. This dispute has raised concerns over whether the truce will hold beyond the weekend.

As part of the ceasefire's first phase, Hamas committed to releasing 33 hostages captured during its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. In return, Israel agreed to free nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. So far, five rounds of swaps have been successfully completed since January 19, resulting in the release of 21 hostages and over 730 Palestinian prisoners.

Despite the partial success of the exchange, the ceasefire agreement remains on shaky ground. The second phase of the deal, which calls for the return of all remaining hostages and an indefinite extension of the ceasefire, remains unresolved. If no agreement is reached soon, the war could resume as early as March.

AP