The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday evening officially announced the cessation of negotiations for the second stage of the ceasefire deal with the Hamas terror group.
Under the ceasefire agreement, Hamas will return Israelis kidnapped during the October 7 massacre in exchange for Israel's release of terrorists, including some who are serving life sentences. Israel has also ceased strikes on Hamas in Gaza, and withdrew from key areas, including the Netzarim Corridor.
A diplomatic source noted that the decision to cease talks for the second stage, which would include additional Israeli withdrawals and compromises, as well as the release of young men who were taken hostage, Hamas violated the agreement "and therefore there will be no progress on continuing to implement the deal and on negotiations for the second stage without the return of our hostages."
"The Cabinet expects the release of all nine hostages from the first stage, within a few days," the source added. All nine hostages are men, either elderly, ill, or injured. The bodies of eight hostages who were either women, elderly, or injured, are also expected to be released in the first stage.
Following the Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said, "In light of Hamas' announcement regarding its decision to violate the agreement and not to release our hostages, last night I instructed the IDF to build up forces within and around the Gaza Strip. This action is now being carried out. It will be completed in the very near future."
"The decision that I passed unanimously in the Cabinet is this: If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday afternoon, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF will return to powerful fighting until Hamas is completely defeated."
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum responded to the Prime Minister's Statement: "Prime Minister, you made the decision to bring all our hostages home through an agreement. We must not go backwards. We cannot allow the hostages to waste away in captivity.
"As we all witnessed this past Saturday - time is running out for the hostages.
"The shocking events of recent days demonstrate the urgent need to accelerate the timeline, complete the full negotiations immediately, and bring back every last hostage with utmost urgency."
A senior Israeli official stated: "Prime Minister Netanyahu and the cabinet are adhering to US President Trump's announcement regarding the release of the hostage. That is - they must all be out on Saturday."
Hamas responded to the ultimatum: "We're committed to the deal as long as Israel is"
Minister Eli Cohen, a member of Israel's Diplomatic-Security Cabinet, on Tuesday morning told Galei Israel that Israel will not bend to Hamas' attempts at blackmail.
"Whoever thought that they could blackmail the State of Israel with such tricks and other things - it will not happen," he said.
Cohen also added that Israel has adopted US President Donald Trump's position regarding the full release of all hostages.
"The Cabinet's position is identical to that of the US President: The return of all hostages and bodies on (sic) Saturday - or hell," he said.
He also hinted that Israel may renew the fighting if hostages do not continue to be released.
"We will adhere to Trump's words and adopt them," Cohen stressed. "I see Hamas' announcement that they will not keep the agreement as a clear violation of the agreement."
The Diplomatic-Security Cabinet met earlier on Tuesday, after Hamas announced that it would not return any hostages on Saturday. All of the Cabinet members expressed support for Trump's demand that all hostages be released by noon Saturday, as well as for Trump's vision for Gaza after the war.