US President-elect Donald Trump has said that he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "keep doing what has to be done" while emphasising his desire to see the war between Israel and Hamas end.
He again warned that "all hell will break out" if both parties do not uphold the ceasefire-hostage agreement.
Trump told NBC News in a phone interview on Saturday that he plans to meet with Netanyahu "fairly shortly" but declined to share more details about a possible meeting.
He said he told Netanyahu "this has to end" but that he should "just keeping doing what you have to do".
When asked if he was confident hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza would be released as part of the agreement, Trump said, "Well, we're going to see very soon, and it better hold."
He added that the US will demand "respect" to ensure the agreement will be observed and warned of consequences if it does not hold.
"The United States has to get respected again, and it has to get respected fast. But respect is the primary word that I use," he said.
"If they respect us, it will hold. If they don't respect us, all hell will break out."
Trump's incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz and his incoming Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff worked alongside the Biden administration in helping facilitate the ceasefire agreement, which is expected to go into effect on Sunday.
Currently, 33 hostages are set to be released in exchange for 1,904 Palestinian prisoners beginning on Sunday, though Hamas has yet to provide a list of names to Israel.
Trump told NBC his administration will uphold the ceasefire with "good government".
"Respect. The United States has to be respected again, and it has to be respected fast. But respect is the primary word that I use," he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he stuck to three "fundamental principles" in the negotiations that led to the ceasefire-for-hostages deal agreed with Hamas.
First, he said in a televised address on Saturday, was Israel's right to return to war, with the backing of the United States, if negotiations on the second phase of the deal break down.
Secondly, Netanyahu said he fought for a "significant increase" in the number of living hostages to be released in the first stage of the deal.
He claimed to have "nearly doubled" that number since discussions in May, but did not specify.
Thirty-three hostages are expected to be released by Hamas in the first stage of the deal, but it remains unclear how many of them are living.
Israel has typically included hostages who have died but whose remains have not been returned to Israel among its official hostage tally.
The third principle, according to Netanyahu, was that Israel would maintain full control over the Philadelphi Corridor — the thin strip of land along the Gaza-Egypt border — and the security buffer zone surrounding the entire Gaza Strip.
Israel's continued military presence in the Philadelphi Corridor was previously a sticking point in negotiations, but Netanyahu said Saturday that, "contrary to all the reports I hear from the outside," Israel was "not only not reducing the forces there — we are even slightly increasing them".
Sri Lankan Navy arrests 32 Tamil fishermen, five boats seized
The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 32 fishermen from Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and fishing in Lankan waters.
Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi hails ISRO's century in rocket launches, urges people to dedicate a day for science
Addressing the 119th episode of his monthly radio programme, 'Mann Ki Baat', on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the Indian Space Research Organisation, saying it has hit the century in space. Last month, the country witnessed the ISRO's 100th rocket launch.
Mizoram student stabbed to death in Kerala, batchmate arrested
A 22-year-old BTech student from Mizoram was stabbed to death near his college in Thiruvananthapuram. The deceased, Valentine, was a student at Rajadhani Institute of Engineering & Technology, Nagaroor.
Italy PM slams Left's double standards, says when Trump, Meloni, Modi talk, they are called threat to democracy
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has accused left-wing politicians of being "nervous" over former US President Donald Trump's victory, claiming that conservatives are unfairly labelled as a "threat to democracy" while leftist leaders are celebrated for similar global alliances.
NDRF intensifies rescue operation to save 8 trapped in Telangana tunnel
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams on Sunday intensified rescue efforts to save eight persons trapped in an under-construction tunnel after a portion of its roof collapsed in Telangana’s Nagarkurnool district on February 22.
Israel delays Palestinian prisoner release after 'humiliating' hostage handovers
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that the release of Palestinian prisoners would be delayed until Hamas ceases its "humiliating ceremonies" during the release of Israeli hostages under the ceasefire deal.
PM Modi on 3-day visit to MP, Bihar, Assam from today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Assam from February 23 to 25 to participate in several developmental projects and inaugurate business summits.
US senators call out China for 'weaponising' UN 1971 resolution, vow support to Taiwan
The United States Senators accused China of subverting United Nations Resolution 2758 in an attempt to isolate Taiwan. The senators proposed a resolution in the Senate reaffirming US support for Taiwan. The resolution opposes China's attempt to prevent Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organisations.