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President Donald Trump responded to Hamas' threat by saying if all the remaining hostages are not freed by midday Saturday, though he said that was Israel's decision to make. The militant group brushed off the threat, saying the hostages would only be returned if all sides held to the truce.

The next handover of three hostages had been scheduled for Saturday, and families say time is running out for those still alive. Israel now awaits what comes from a security Cabinet meeting moved up in response to Monday's Hamas announcement.

The developments also have led to new fear in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have surged to what remains of their homes in the territory’s north after fleeing in the war’s earliest weeks.

The uncertainty, just over halfway into the ceasefire’s six-week first phase, complicates talks on the far more difficult second phase. It also jeopardizes the pause in the devastating fighting and the that the truce has made possible.

Already, there had been concerns that the war would resume at the end of the first phase in early March.

What happened?

Hamas accused Israel of not holding up its end of the deal by initially delaying the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza over an earlier dispute, carrying out strikes across the territory and hindering the entry of tents, mobile homes and medical supplies for hospitals.

The militant group, which quickly reasserted control over Gaza when the ceasefire began on Jan. 19, said the next hostage release would be delayed “until further notice.�

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz called the delay “a complete violation� of the ceasefire agreement, and he instructed the military to be on highest alert. The prime minister’s coordinator for hostages said the government intends to live up to its end of the deal.

A later Hamas statement called the postponement a “warning signal� to Israel and noted that five days remained for mediators – the United States, Qatar and Egypt -- to pressure Israel to act. “The door remains open for the exchange to proceed as planned if Israel abides by its obligations," it said.

There was no immediate public reaction from the other mediators.

What’s Trump saying?

The Hamas announcement came as Trump pressed further on his stunning proposal to remove the Palestinian population from devastated Gaza and have the U.S. take “ownership� of the territory. He told Fox News on Sunday that the Palestinians .

That deepened the shock among Palestinians, who live with in what is now Israel during the 1948 war. And it brought new that have long pressed for an independent Palestinian state.

Trump’s comments contradicted some of his own administration officials who had said the president was only calling for the Palestinians’ temporary relocation.

Hamas has repeatedly condemned Trump's Gaza proposal but has not linked those objections to the future of the ceasefire.

Who and what is at stake?

In immediate limbo is the planned release on Saturday of three more Israeli hostages, along with dozens more .

Such exchanges — five so far in a gradual release of 33 hostages — have been sometimes tense and chaotic acts of trust that have gradually pushed the ceasefire forward, allowing its other measures to fall into place.

But the latest release brought home like no other the bleak and dangerous conditions for those still held in Gaza.

Relatives of the newly released hostages, at times sobbing, have described people being chained or held underground for months and eating half a piece of pita per day. Freed hostages have described going months without showering.

The accounts have put furious new to begin the delayed talks on the ceasefire’s second phase, which is meant to see dozens of remaining hostages released and bring a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

“The hostages are in a clear and present danger. Their lives are at risk,� a doctor working with families of hostages, Hagai Levine, warned on Monday. “Delaying their release means that some of them will not survive.�

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