Middle East crisis: Hamas announces further details of Israelis it will free this weekend – as it happened

<p>Israel warned Thursday that Hamas must release three living hostages this weekend or face a resumption of the war in Gaza</p><p>The <strong>Israeli</strong> government has signalled it intends to stick to the hostage release schedule agreed in the ceasefire deal with <strong>Hamas</strong>, but warned that if the anticipated three surviving hostages were not released on Saturday, it would go back to war in <strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/gaza">Gaza</a></strong>.</p><p>The statement from the prime minister’s office ends nearly three days of confusion after <strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/10/trump-gaza-ceasefire-hamas-hostages">Donald Trump</a></strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/10/trump-gaza-ceasefire-hamas-hostages">’s declaration</a> that Israel should demand Hamas release all the remaining hostages, more than 70 people, by Saturday or failing that, end the ceasefire.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/feb/14/israel-gaza-war-hostages-ceasefire-middle-east-latest-news">Continue reading...</a>