Hamas just caved under pressure, announcing Thursday that it will stick to its agreement and release more hostages on Saturday—just days after threatening to delay the swap indefinitely.
Hamas Tried to Stall—Trump Wasn’t Having It
Hamas initially vowed to postpone any further releases, claiming that Israel had violated the ceasefire by restricting aid, shelling parts of Gaza, and delaying the return of displaced residents.
But President Donald Trump didn’t flinch, making it crystal clear what would happen if Hamas didn’t comply.
“Cancel it and all bets are off—let hell break out,” Trump warned. “If they’re not returned—ALL of them, not in dribs and drabs—by Saturday at 12 o’clock, all hell is going to break out.”
Netanyahu Echoes Trump’s Hardline Stance
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reinforced Trump’s message, vowing to resume full-scale war if Hamas failed to comply.
“We will continue to take determined and ruthless action until we return all of our hostages—the living and the deceased,” Netanyahu declared.
With two world leaders applying maximum pressure, Hamas immediately reversed course.
Hamas Backs Down, Hostage Swap Back On
After days of stalling, Hamas officially confirmed it will release three more hostages this weekend.
“We are not interested in the collapse of the ceasefire agreement,” Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua admitted, signaling the terror group’s retreat.
However, al-Qanoua still tried to downplay the impact of Trump and Netanyahu’s pressure.
“The language of threats and intimidation does not serve the ceasefire agreement,” he claimed.
But the reality is clear—Trump’s no-nonsense approach just forced Hamas’ hand.
Conclusion: Strength Wins, Weakness Fails
Hamas thought it could stall and manipulate the hostage situation—but Trump and Netanyahu called their bluff.
The question now is: Will Hamas finally release ALL the hostages, or will Trump have to follow through on his warning?
