If Hamas does not release the hostages by Saturday noon, the hostage-ceasefire deal will end, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday.
Netanyahu detailed Israel's next steps following the conclusion of the political and security cabinet meeting, which convened Tuesday early afternoon to discuss Hamas's suspension of the hostages' release.
"If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF will resume intense fighting until Hamas is decisively defeated," Netanyahu said, adding the decision had been reached unanimously by cabinet members.
An Israeli official clarified to The Jerusalem Post that Israel expects three hostages to be released on Saturday as per the ceasefire agreement, with the rest being freed over the coming days.
However, later on Tuesday, a senior Israeli official walked back on the statement, saying that Netanyahu and the cabinet are sticking to US President Donald Trump's demand that all hostages set to be freed in phase one be released on Saturday.
"I have just concluded an in-depth four-hour discussion in the security cabinet. We all expressed outrage at the appalling condition of the three hostages who were released last Saturday," the prime minister said.
"We also all welcomed President Trump's demand for the release of our hostages by noon on Saturday, and we also welcomed the president's revolutionary vision for the future of Gaza," Netanyahu noted.
IDF troops deployed
"In light of Hamas's announcement of its decision to violate the agreement and not release our hostages, I instructed the IDF last night to amass forces inside and around the Gaza Strip," Netanyahu stated, adding, "This operation is underway as we speak and will be completed as soon as possible."
Shortly after Netanyahu's remarks, the military said additional troops, including reservists, were being deployed to the Southern Command.
Earlier on Tuesday, a source said there would be no second phase of hostage-ceasefire deal talks until all hostages are returned.
Hamas postpones release of hostages
On Monday, Hamas said it would postpone the release of the hostages scheduled for February 15 due to an Israeli violation of the hostage-ceasefire deal.
Following Hamas's announcement on Monday, the IDF decided to raise the level of readiness in the Southern Command and postponed leave for combat soldiers and operational units.
Yuval Barnea contributed to this report.