Trump's Latest Intervention Dooms Hopes for a Lasting Gaza Resolution

US leader's threat to cancel ceasefire offers just what hardliners in Israeli Cabinet want

- Jonathan Eyal

US President Donald Trump has warned that unless Hamas, the militant Palestinian organisation in Gaza, releases all the Israeli hostages it still holds by noon on Feb 15, the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel should be cancelled and "all hell is going to break out".

Mr Trump's warning came in response to a Feb 10 announcement by Hamas that it had "indefinitely postponed" the release of Israeli hostages who were set to be freed from the Gaza Strip this week, as it accused Israel's government of violating the ceasefire agreement.

Asked whether he meant that Israel should retaliate against Hamas, the US President replied: "You'll find out, and they'll find out too. Hamas will find out what I mean."

Mr Trump's intervention sharply raises the possibility of renewed fighting in Gaza. But even if the current ceasefire agreement, which America helped negotiate between Hamas and Israel, survives this week, hopes of a more durable settlement to the Gaza conflict are rapidly fading.

Israel's military authorities announced on Feb 11 that they have "decided to raise the level of readiness and postpone leave for combat soldiers and operational units in the Southern Command", an area that covers the Gaza Strip.

The deal between Hamas and Israel, brokered by Mr Trump's envoys even before the US President was inaugurated, envisages three stages: a temporary ceasefire and a partial exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails; negotiations for a permanent truce during which all Israeli hostages are released; and the final stage, when the future administration of Gaza will be decided, and the reconstruction of the territory will begin.

During the current first phase of the deal, which is scheduled to last until Feb 25, Hamas has to release a total of 33 named Israeli hostages at regular intervals of usually three each week.