Israel ready to resume Gaza war, PM warns after truce delay

Newly released hostage Avera Mengistu (2nd-R) flanked by security forces disembarks a military helicopter on the heliport of the Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov) in Tel Aviv on February 22, 2025. [AFP]

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel was prepared to resume fighting against Hamas after the Palestinian group accused it of endangering a five-week-old Gaza truce by suspending prisoner releases.

The first phase of the truce, which has largely halted more than 15 months of devastating war in the Gaza Strip, is due to expire in early March, and details of a planned subsequent phase have not been agreed.