Mediators gave Hamas 24 hours to retreat from Gaza yellow line or face Israeli retaliation

The ultimatum, conveyed through Egypt and Qatar, expired 8:00 Thursday evening.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Hamas was given a 24-hour deadline by mediators to pull its fighters behind the Yellow Line dividing IDF- and Hamas-controlled areas of Gaza or face Israeli military action, according to a U.S. official briefed on the talks.

The ultimatum, conveyed through Egypt and Qatar, expired 8:00 Thursday evening.

“Last night, Hamas was informed that it had 24 hours to remove its forces from the area behind the Yellow Line currently held by the IDF,” the official said. “That window closed at 8 p.m. local time, after which Israel is authorized to target Hamas positions that remain inside the restricted zone. This directive was agreed upon by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar.”

The warning followed several ceasefire violations by Hamas earlier in the week, prompting Israeli strikes on dozens of terrorist positions across Gaza. The IDF said its operations targeted observation posts, rocket and mortar sites, weapons workshops, and underground tunnels before the ceasefire’s renewal.

Hamas had previously been permitted to cross the Yellow Line temporarily, under coordination with the Red Cross, to retrieve the bodies of hostages killed in Gaza. However, Israeli officials say the group has been slow to return the remains as required by the ceasefire terms.

“There’s very little pressure from the mediators to push Hamas to act faster,” one Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post. “We still have leverage to compel them to return the hostages, and we believe at least two bodies could be handed over immediately. But there’s concern we’ll see days go by again without any progress.”

The agreement governing the ceasefire and hostage returns was designed to allow humanitarian coordination while preventing Hamas from repositioning near Israeli lines.

Officials in Jerusalem believe the group is deliberately stalling and may be using the recovery process to conceal military activity near IDF-held territory.

With the deadline expired, the IDF is now cleared by the mediating governments to resume strikes if Hamas fighters remain beyond the Yellow Line.

Israeli commanders say the army will “enforce the ceasefire through action” if necessary to prevent further violations and secure the return of all hostages.