Photo: Hatem Khaled/ Reuters
Israeli officials have said they are putting maximum pressure on Hamas, expecting the release of Israeli hostages on Saturday. If this does not happen, they warn that “all hell will break loose,” The Jerusalem Post reports.
The exact number of hostages to be released remains unknown, as the Israeli authorities avoid making public statements on this issue. At the same time, according to US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, the US president made it clear that he expects the situation to change on Saturday, otherwise the consequences will be serious.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said that the hostage deal would be implemented according to a previously agreed schedule. This means that only three Israeli prisoners can be released on Saturday, which contradicts the demands of Israel and the United States.
On Wednesday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that if Hamas does not release the hostages by the deadline, the Israeli army will launch a large-scale operation. This echoes the harsh statement by former US President Donald Trump, who called for the ceasefire to be cancelled if all hostages are not released by Saturday.
Negotiations to resolve the crisis continue in Cairo, Qatar and Israel. They have been joined by representatives of Hamas, including the group’s leader Khalil al-Haya, as well as Egyptian and Qatari mediators. However, it is unclear whether the parties will be able to reach a compromise that will avoid a new stage of escalation.
