Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that if Hamas did not release Israeli hostages by noon on Saturday a fragile ceasefire in Gaza would end and the Israeli army would resume its offensive in the Palestinian enclave until the militant group is defeated.

Israel's prime minister has warned it will terminate the ceasefire in Gaza and resume intense fighting "if Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon". Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the Israeli military to amass troops inside and around Gaza in response to Hamas's announcement that it was postponing freeing more hostages until further notice.

It’s only three weeks into a fragile ceasefire, and Israel and Hamas are each ratcheting up allegations that the other party has violated the deal.