Chicago February 18, 2025
As the first phase of the fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement nears its end, Israel is weighing its next steps. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash “hell” unless all hostages are released, putting pressure on Hamas.
Israeli military experts warn that if the ceasefire collapses, the consequences for Hamas will be severe. Maj. Gen. Yaakov Amidror, a former Israeli National Security Council chief, says Israel will resume the war in Gaza with full force. “Hamas understands that the alternative to the ceasefire is a full-blown war, and they’re not ready for that,” Amidror explained.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed this sentiment, stating that Israel and the US are working together to ensure the hostages’ release. “If all our hostages are not returned, the gates of hell will open,” Netanyahu warned.
Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a former IDF international spokesperson, believes that Hamas’s refusal to return all hostages, combined with Trump’s willingness to take action, will lead to a resumption of fighting in Gaza. “The aim will be to defeat Hamas and take control of the Gaza Strip,” Conricus said. The stakes are high, and the world watches anxiously as the deadline for the hostages’ release approaches.
