Israel warns: Gaza offensive to resume "within days" if hostage deal fails

Israeli officials told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday that they are giving Hamas only a few more days to reach an agreement on releasing additional hostages before resuming military operations.

"We are willing to give a chance of a few days, but we won't let it drag on indefinitely," the officials stated. "If we see that the negotiations are not being conducted in good faith, we will return to fighting in Gaza."

Meanwhile, senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi told Al Jazeera that Hamas will not agree to extend the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal as requested by Israel. Instead, he insisted that any further hostage releases must follow the terms of the already agreed-upon phased deal.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a four-hour meeting with top security officials, the Israeli negotiation team led by Gal Hirsch, and several ministers, including Defense Minister Israel Katz, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Following the meeting, Israel decided to adopt a proposal by U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. The plan includes a 42-day ceasefire, with the first group of living hostages and the remains of half of the deceased hostages to be released on the first day, and the second group, along with the remaining bodies, to be returned on the final day.

However, Israeli officials have made it clear that they will not allow negotiations to stall indefinitely. "If Hamas thinks it can extend the ceasefire or take advantage of phase one without releasing hostages, they are terribly mistaken," Netanyahu warned at the start of a cabinet meeting.