HAMAS pushed back today at United States President Donald Trump’s threat that “all hell” will break out if it does not release the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza by Saturday.

The Palestinian resistance group announced on Monday that it intended to delay the next release of three Israeli hostages, planned for Saturday, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement, including by not allowing a surge of tents and shelters into the devastated territory.

This prompted Mr Trump to say the ceasefire should be cancelled if Hamas doesn’t release all the remaining hostages it is holding by noon on Saturday, though he also said that such a decision would be up to Israel.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said on Tuesday that the dozens of hostages would only be returned if all parties remained committed to the ceasefire deal reached last month.

He reminded Mr Trump that “there is an agreement that must be respected by both parties,” adding that threatening language only complicates matters.

Another senior Hamas official, Basem Naim, accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of delaying the start of the negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire deal, which was meant to start last week.

He said an Israeli delegation sent to continue the negotiations was “not authorised to negotiate anything, especially for the second phase.”

“I think every observer, every neutral observer, will clearly see that Israel is intentionally sabotaging the deal,” Mr Naim said.

After the Hamas announcement, protesters took to the street of Israel to accuse Mr Netanyahu of sabotaging the truce deal.

Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is held in Gaza, accused Mr Netanyahu of sabotaging the captives’ release deal to prolong his rule.

She told a rally: “The prime minister is doing everything to sacrifice my son Matan and all the hostages on the altar of his rule.” 

Another protester, Gili Roman, whose brother Yarden Roman Gat, was released by the Palestinian resistance in November 2023, said: “We’re expecting for this deal to continue until its very end. So we expect them to come back this Saturday as planned.” 

During the first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas has committed to freeing a total of 33 hostages captured in its October 7 2023, attack in exchange for Israel releasing nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

The sides have carried out five swaps since January 19, freeing 21 hostages and over 730 Palestinian prisoners so far.