Headline Roundup • February 11th, 2025
Hamas Delays Hostage Release, Casts Blame on Israel; Trump Responds With Threat
Summary from the AllSides News Team
On Monday, Hamas announced it is suspending Saturday's release of hostages, and President Donald Trump responded that the ceasefire deal with Israel should be canceled if all hostages are not released by noon on Saturday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed with the deadline Tuesday.
Key Details: Hamas is claiming that Israel has violated the ceasefire agreement by delaying the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, not allowing some humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, and conducting airstrikes. The U.S. and Israel are standing by the fact that only about half of the hostages due to be released, in line with the schedule laid out in the ceasefire agreement, have been freed so far. Meanwhile, Israel has raised its level of alert and canceled furlough for Southern Command troops.
Key Quotes: "Hamas did everything it committed to as part of the agreement ... therefore the release of hostages planned for Saturday February 15 will be postponed indefinitely," said a spokesperson for Hamas' military wing in a statement. In response, Trump said, "If they are not released by 12 o'clock on Saturday I say cancel it [the ceasefire] and all bets are off ... all hell will break loose."
For Context: The delay in releasing the hostages, which could be a response to Trump's "Gaza takeover" plan, would be a violation of the ceasefire in Gaza and could lead to the resumption of the war. Israel reportedly ordered troops to return to areas in and around Gaza on Tuesday.
How The Media Covered It: Some sources on the left frame Trump as putting the deal at risk, while some sources on the right seem to subtly side with Trump. Updated at 2:22 p.m. ET with more detail.
Featured Coverage of this Story
Yonatan Sindel/Flash90
Hamas said Tuesday that US President Donald Trump’s demand that the terror group release all its hostages by noon Saturday — or “all bets are off” — “further complicates matters” relating to the fragile Gaza truce, after the terror group announced Monday that it would delay the next scheduled hostage release over alleged Israeli violations of the deal.
“Trump must remember that there is an agreement that must be respected by both parties and this is the only way to return the prisoners,” Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told AFP, referring to the hostages.
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President Trump issued an ultimatum on Monday to Hamas, saying that if all remaining Israeli hostages are not released from Gaza by noon on Saturday, then "all hell is going to break loose."
Asked by reporters for details on what that meant, Mr. Trump initially responded: "You'll find out, and they'll find out, too. Hamas will find out what I mean."
He then said ending the ceasefire that took effect on January 19 would be "Israel's decision," but that he felt it would be "appropriate" to cancel the agreement if...
After a fresh batch of executive orders from the Oval Office Monday night, President Donald Trump said that the hostages still being held by Hamas must be returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock or the ceasefire deal should be canceled and all hell will break loose.
When asked what that means he responded, “they’ll find out.”
Remarking on the reality of the crisis he said that he believes a lot of them are dead already.
When asked if he would commit U.S. troops he did not commit.
