Israel Katz warns all hell will break loose if hostages not released by Saturday

Katz reiterates US President Donald Trump's statements, adding that the new phase of the Gaza war would be different in intensity and would not end without defeating Hamas and freeing all hostages.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF FEBRUARY 12, 2025 18:15 Updated: FEBRUARY 12, 2025 18:23

An illustrative image of Defense Minister Israel Katz. (photo credit: Khalil Kahlout/Flash90/Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

If Hamas does not release the Israeli hostages by Saturday, all hell will break loose, exactly as US President Donald Trump promised, Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday.

Katz also threatened Hamas terrorists, stating that "if they stop releasing the hostages, then there is no agreement, and there is war."

"The new Gaza war will be different in intensity from the one before the ceasefire – and it will not end without Hamas’ defeat and the release of all the hostages."

"Every ceasefire agreement with Hamas terrorists was meant to secure the swift release of the Israeli hostages, who are being held under the harshest conditions in Gaza," Katz stated.

Israel "agreed to pay a heavy price in return," he added.

Katz was speaking in the IDF Operations Directorate command bunker and was accompanied by IDF Operations Directorate Chief Major General Oded Basiuk, and Head of the Operations Division Brigadier General Israel Shomer.

Katz clarified he came to the command bunker to meet the senior IDF figures in order to "ensure that the IDF is properly prepared for the resumption of the war in Gaza."