In a decisive move, U.S. President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his unwavering support for Israel following the expiration of a critical hostage release deadline set for Hamas. The militant group had previously agreed to release all hostages by 12:00 PM on Saturday; however, this commitment remains unfulfilled.

President Trump, addressing the situation, stated, “I’d say they ought to be returned by 12 o’clock on Saturday… all of them, not in drips and drabs, not two and one and three and four and two.” He emphasized that the decision to extend or terminate the current ceasefire rests with Israel, and assured that the United States will fully support any course of action Israel deems necessary.

In a recent development, Hamas released three hostages: American-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen, Russian-Israeli Sasha Trufanov, and Argentinian-Israeli Iair Horn. This release was part of the sixth exchange under the fragile ceasefire agreement, with Israel reciprocating by releasing 369 Palestinian prisoners.

Despite these exchanges, tensions have escalated due to delays and accusations of ceasefire violations. Hamas has accused Israel of targeting Palestinians in Gaza with airstrikes, leading to delays in the scheduled release of hostages. In response, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Hamas’s actions constitute a “complete violation” of the ceasefire agreement, and has placed the Israeli military on high alert.

The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, as the potential collapse of the ceasefire could lead to renewed hostilities in the region. President Trump’s firm stance underscores the United States’ commitment to supporting Israel’s security and sovereignty during this critical period.