Israel threatens 'return to war' if ceasefire deal breached as Netanyahu calls agreement 'temporary'
18 January 2025, 19:20 | Updated: 19 January 2025, 06:31
Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Israel "reserves the right" to return to war if any parts of the ceasefire agreement is breached.
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The Israeli Prime Minister stressed that his defence forces were to return to fighting, they would do so in new and "forceful" ways.
The ceasefire was due to begin at 6.30 UK time on Sunday morning, but Mr Netanyahu said it was delayed because Hamas had failed to release a list of hostages to be released.
And on Saturday, he said in a televised address: "If we must return to fighting, we will do that in new, forceful ways."
Nr Netanyahu added the US is behind him on this, with a second phase of ceasefire negotiations still set to take place.
"President Trump and President Biden have given full backing to Israel's right to return to combat if Israel concludes that negotiations on Phase B are futile," he added.
The prime minister also claimed his military has "changed the face of the Middle East" after achieving what he called successes against his "enemies" across the region, including Hezbollah and Iran.
Some hostages are set to be release tomorrow, likely women and children, while male soldiers are to be released in a second phase that is yet to be negotiated.
Read more: Netanyahu: Israel is treating Gaza ceasefire as temporary
Israel’s justice ministry has published its own a list of more than 700 who are to be freed in the deal’s first phase.
Under the deal, 33 hostages are set to be released over the next six weeks, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
Mr Netanyahu added: “Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement. The sole responsibility lies with Hamas.”
