US’ Trump backs Israel as his deadline for Hamas to release hostages expires

ISTANBUL

US President Donald Trump Saturday said that US will back Israel's decision as his deadline for Palestinian group Hamas to release all remaining hostages expires.

Trump, in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, pointed to the deadline he set earlier this week for Hamas to return all hostages.

"Israel will now have to decide what they will do about the 12:00 O’CLOCK, TODAY, DEADLINE imposed on the release of ALL HOSTAGES," Trump wrote. "The United States will back the decision they make!"

The move came after Israel released 10 Palestinian prisoners from the occupied West Bank on Saturday as part of the sixth batch of phase one of the prisoner exchange deal linked to the ceasefire agreement with Hamas.

On Hamas' release earlier Saturday of three hostages from Gaza, including an American citizen, Trump said: “They seem to be in good shape! This differs from their statement last week that they would not release any Hostages.”

Earlier this week, Trump proposed cancellation of the Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas if all the hostages in the besieged strip were not released by Saturday.

He wrote Monday: "As far as I'm concerned, if all of the hostages aren't returned by Saturday at 12 o'clock – I think it's an appropriate time – I would say, cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out. I'd say they ought to be returned by 12 o'clock on Saturday (1700GMT) … And after that, I would say, all hell is going to break out.”

The Gaza ceasefire agreement has been in place since Jan. 19, suspending Israel’s genocidal war that has killed more than 48,000 people, mostly women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.

Hamas had said it would delay the sixth release of hostages on Saturday due to Israeli violations of the agreement, but after mediation from Qatar and Egypt, the deal is set to be implemented this weekend as agreed.