Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to convene a meeting at 12:00 p.m. eastern on Saturday to discuss the remaining terms of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas, as confirmed by his spokesperson. Netanyahu's statement emphasized Israel's thorough preparations for future developments in light of recent events.
Earlier on Saturday, Hamas released three hostages, including American citizen Sagui Dekel-Chen, following potential delays due to alleged ceasefire violations by Israel. President Donald Trump had set a deadline for Hamas to return all remaining hostages by noon, warning that failure to do so could lead to the cancellation of the ceasefire.
Trump's deadline, initially ambiguous in terms of time zone, was interpreted by Israel as 12 p.m. eastern, aligning with Netanyahu's scheduled meeting time. Hamas had previously announced the planned release of hostages on Saturday, with Dekel-Chen, Iair Horn, and Sasha Troufanov being among those freed from captivity.
In response to the unfolding situation, Trump expressed support for Israel's decisions regarding further actions, emphasizing U.S. backing for the country's choices. The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which commenced on Jan. 19, involves the release of 33 hostages by Hamas in exchange for the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners over a six-week period.
Trump's recent comments on the hostage situation highlighted concerns over the well-being of the released individuals, likening their appearance to that of Holocaust survivors and expressing dismay at their physical condition.
