While PM' statement does not explicitly call for all captives to be returned by week's end, comments from officials give contradictory accounts of Israel's demands The post Netanyahu: ‘Intense fighting’ to resume in Gaza if hostages not released by Saturday appeared first on The Times of Israel.

The new demand seized on an ultimatum issued by President Trump, who said Tuesday that Hamas was unlikely to meet the deadline.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that if Hamas did not release Israeli hostages by noon on Saturday, a fragile ceasefire in Gaza would end and the Israeli army would resume its offensive in the Palestinian enclave until the militant group is defeated.