Gaza ceasefire deadline has been set by U.S. President Donald Trump, who warned Hamas that hostilities will resume if hostages are not released by noon on Saturday. Speaking from the Oval Office on Monday, Trump declared that “all hell is going to break out” if Hamas fails to comply.
Hamas Delays Hostage Release
Trump’s ultimatum comes after Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, announced that the scheduled hostage release on February 15 had been postponed indefinitely. The group accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement, further complicating diplomatic efforts.
Controversial Plan for Gaza
Since returning to office, Trump has promoted a Gaza resettlement plan that would permanently displace Palestinians and place the territory under U.S. control. Over the weekend, he reaffirmed this vision, arguing that Palestinians should not return to Gaza after the conflict.
“No, they wouldn’t [return],” Trump told Fox News. “They will have much better housing… I’m talking about building a permanent place for them.”
The proposal, revealed alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has sparked global outrage. Critics argue that it violates international law and constitutes forced displacement.
Read: Israel Plans for Gaza Migration Amid Ongoing War
Gaza as “Real Estate”
Doubling down on his controversial stance, Trump described Gaza as “a big real estate site” that the United States would “own” and redevelop. Speaking aboard Air Force One, he suggested that blocking Palestinians from returning was a strategic move to prevent Hamas from regaining control.
“We don’t want Hamas going back. And think of it as a big real estate site, and the United States is going to own it,” he remarked.
Threats to Jordan and Egypt
Trump also hinted at cutting U.S. aid to Jordan and Egypt if they refused to accept Palestinian refugees displaced by Israel’s military operations.
“Yeah, maybe, sure why not?” he said when asked about using aid as leverage. “If they don’t [accept refugees], I would conceivably withhold aid, yes.”
Both Jordan and Egypt have rejected any forced displacement of Palestinians. Jordan’s King Abdullah, set to meet Trump at the White House, has strongly opposed the plan, while Egyptian officials have refused to allow displaced Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula.
Administration Tries to Downplay the Crisis
Following Trump’s remarks, White House officials scrambled to clarify the administration’s stance.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed that the plan only involved temporary relocation while Gaza was rebuilt. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it a “generous” move meant to aid reconstruction.
Despite these attempts to soften the message, Trump has repeatedly insisted that his plan is permanent, framing it as an “opportunity” for American-led redevelopment in Gaza. His statements have alarmed international observers, who see the plan as ethnic cleansing in violation of international law.
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