U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Monday that Hamas must release all hostages held in Gaza by noon on Saturday, or he would consider proposing the cancellation of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, potentially leading to significant escalation.

Trump warned that Israel might choose to act independently on this matter and indicated that he might have a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During a comprehensive press briefing in the Oval Office, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with the condition of the most recently released hostages and criticized Hamas for announcing a halt to further releases.

“In my view, if all hostages are not returned by Saturday at 12 PM, it would be appropriate to cancel the ceasefire, and all options would be on the table. I believe they should be returned by that deadline,” Trump remarked. He emphasized his desire for a mass release of hostages rather than a staggered approach, stating, “We want them all back.”

Additionally, Trump mentioned the possibility of withholding aid to Jordan and Egypt if they do not accept Palestinian refugees being relocated from Gaza. He is scheduled to meet with King Abdullah of Jordan on Tuesday.

These remarks came amid some uncertainty regarding Trump’s proposal for a U.S. administration of Gaza following the cessation of hostilities. He asserted that under his plan for the redevelopment of the region, Palestinians would not have the right to return to Gaza, which contradicted earlier statements from his officials suggesting that Gazans would only be temporarily relocated. In an interview excerpt aired on Fox News with Bret Baier, Trump expressed confidence in negotiating with Jordan and Egypt to accommodate the displaced Palestinians, noting that the U.S. provides substantial financial aid to both nations.

When asked about the possibility of Palestinians returning to Gaza, Trump responded, “No, they wouldn’t because they’re going to have much better housing.” He elaborated on his vision of creating a permanent settlement for them, noting that it would take years for Gaza to become livable again.

In a surprising statement on February 4, following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, Trump suggested relocating Gaza’s 2.2 million Palestinians and proposed that the U.S. take control of the coastal territory, transforming it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”

This proposal for Palestinian displacement has faced strong opposition from Gaza residents and Arab nations, with rights advocates and the United Nations condemning it as a form of ethnic cleansing. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri criticized Trump’s assertion that Palestinians would not be allowed to return, calling it “irresponsible.” He warned that such plans could potentially destabilize the region.

Netanyahu, who endorsed the proposal, indicated that Palestinians might have the option to return. “They can leave, they can then come back, they can relocate and come back. But you have to rebuild Gaza,” he stated the day after Trump’s announcement. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, preparing for his first Middle East visit, mentioned that Palestinians would need to “live somewhere else in the interim” during the reconstruction phase, although he did not explicitly dismiss the idea of their permanent displacement.

The State Department has not yet provided a response regarding the differences between the recent statements made by Rubio and Trump concerning the plan. Trump’s remarks come at a time when the fragile ceasefire established last month between Israel and Hamas is in jeopardy, following Hamas’s announcement on Monday that it would cease the release of Israeli hostages due to alleged violations of the agreement by Israel.

Arab nations neighboring Israel, including Egypt and Jordan, have expressed concerns that any initiative to relocate Palestinians from their territories would lead to regional instability. On Monday, Rubio met with Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in Washington, where the Egyptian foreign ministry reported that Abdelatty conveyed the support of Arab countries for the Palestinians in opposing Trump’s proposal. Cairo is apprehensive that Palestinians may be compelled to cross into Egypt from Gaza.

In a Fox News interview, Trump suggested that between two and six communities could be established for Palestinians “a little bit away from where they are, where all of this danger is.” He characterized the initiative as a real estate development for the future, describing it as a potentially beautiful piece of land that would not require significant financial investment.