February 13, 2025
Philip C. Johnson, Ph.D.
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas fell under significant strain due to disputes over hostage releases and humanitarian aid. Hamas has delayed the release of three Israeli hostages, alleging that Israel has not met its commitments under the truce, such as providing adequate aid to Gaza. Israel disputes this charge.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued an ultimatum: If all remaining hostages are not freed by noon on Saturday, February 15, Israel will terminate the ceasefire and resume intense military operations in Gaza. And indeed, Israel has already begun a larger military buildup than at any other times since October 7th – the date in 2023 of the brutal Hamas massacre of Israeli citizens.
Netanyahu’s stance aligns with President Donald Trump’s recent demand that Hamas release all hostages by the same deadline, warning that failure to do so would result in severe consequences. In Trump’s words, if all of the hostages are not released on Saturday – and he means ALL – then “all hell will break out.”
Interestingly, President Trump set the ultimatum first and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu jumped right on board. Hamas, has been clear that they have no intention of releasing all of the hostages and no interest following anyone else’s deadline.
This morning, I already began hearing nuances to the Saturday deadline. President Trump has said that ultimately, it’s Israel’s choice to follow through with the deadline threat. And earlier today, an Israeli spokesperson confirmed that what Israel expects is the release of three living hostages, per the existing “framework” of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement.
And unsurprisingly, as I write this, Hamas has changed their mind and said that they will release three hostages on Saturday. Not all of the hostages. But three of them. Frustratingly, along the journey of getting Israeli hostages back, the exchanges have included Israeli releasing many hundreds of Hamas terrorists from Israeli prisons, many of whom have been convicted of murder or other violent crimes.
Regardless, the situation in the Middle East remains tense with no good answers on any side. Donald Trump has suggested one potential solution: that the US would take over the Gaza Strip, resettle the people, and rebuild Gaza into the new Riviera of the Middle East. Does it sound absurd? Yes. And yet – has anything else has ever worked.
Neighboring Jordan and Egypt are not supportive of Trump’s idea with recent reports indicating that Egypt has been amassing a significant military presence in the Sinai Peninsula, including tanks and armored vehicles near the Gaza border.
Jordan has firmly rejected President Trump’s proposal to relocate Gaza’s population to neighboring countries, viewing it as a national security threat that could destabilize the region. But after a meeting with Trump in Washington, D.C., the King has agreed to take 2000 sick children from Gaza into Jordan.
I suppose that every now and again, Egypt and Jordan are reminded that they are the recipients of billions of dollars of US aid.
This is a developing story, so stay tuned to the events of the next hostage release on Saturday, February 15th.
The Global Nexter 