HAMAS told its bosses to turn off their phones and hide as they prepare for a massive Israeli blitz if the ceasefire collapses.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened the deal could end and fighting could erupt at midday on Saturday if Hamas does not return hostages.

As tensions skyrocket both sides are preparing for fighting to return – after the ceasefire has only been in force for less than a month.

Hamas’ top brass has told its terror goons to stop using cellphones as they fear they could be tracked by the IDF, Saudi Asharq Al-Awsat news outlet reports.

The militants have also been told to physically hide themselves back in the network of tunnels under Gaza as Israeli drones and fighter jets will control the skies.

According to the report, the guidelines were supposed to come into effect at the end of the first phase of the ceasefire, but they had been brought forward.

During the 16-month war, Israel was highly effective at assassinating Hamas’ and Hezbollah’s top brass in targeted airstrikes and with a mass pager sabotage strike.

Israel has mobilized reserves with Netanyahu instructing the IDF to “amass forces inside – and surrounding – the Gaza Strip”.

He said: “If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF (Israeli military) will resume intense fighting until Hamas is decisively defeated.”

Netanyahu said the cabinet “all expressed outrage at the shocking situation of our three hostages who were released last Saturday”.

That came after Hamas said it was postponing freeing more hostages, claiming Israel had violated the agreement.

It is unclear whether Netanyahu is demanding the release of all 76 remaining hostages, or just the three due to be freed this Saturday.

Hamas’ claim Israel has been dragging its feet on allowing aid into Gaza – a charge Israel has rejected as untrue.

A Hamas representative told the BBC: “We don’t wish that this deal will fall apart.

“We are doing the maximum to avoid any obstacles, any challenges, and therefore we are ready to hand over prisoners next Saturday if the situation is rectified through the mediators.”

Hamas’ terror pals Ansar Allah, known as the Houthis, has threatened to renew attacks on Israel if the deal falls apart and says “our fingers are on the trigger”.

The Iran-backed group has warned that its Yemeni fighters are ready to attack Israel if the Gaza is attacked again, Tehran’s media reported.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stoked fears of a new bloodbath in Gaza – warning that Hamas must not be allowed to rebuild its blitzed stronghold.

He said: “Part of the challenge here is that Hamas continues to use networks to smuggle in weaponry and aid for themselves to reconstitute themselves.

“Israel can’t allow that to happen. You can’t allow Hamas to use the ceasefire to rebuild itself and recover strength.

“It’s a ceasefire, but it’s not a stupid ceasefire.”

Donald Trump had already threatened to unleash “hell” if the terror group doesn’t honour its part of the ceasefire deal.

He told reporters at The White House: “If all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock, I think it’s an appropriate time.

“I would say, cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out. I’d say they ought to be returned by 12 o’clock on Saturday.”

He added: “I don’t want a trickle. Not three and then two. I want them all.”

So far, Israel and Hamas have completed five exchanges in the first phase of the ceasefire, freeing 21 hostages and more than 730 prisoners.

Hamas had agreed to release 33 hostages for nearly 2,000 prisoners and detainees during this phase.

The major confrontation comes just halfway through the agreed six-week deal which should see 33 hostages ruthlessly snatched on October 7, finally returned home to their loved ones.

With 21 released so far during this phase, a dozen are still yet to be freed with fears increasing every day about the condition of those still being held.

The US president said he was losing his patience with the hostage deal after seeing footage of Eli Sharabi, Or Levy and Ohad Ben Ami, who appeared gaunt upon their release.

Last week, the President surprised the world when he said the US should take over the decimated Gaza Strip and create his vision of a “Riviera of the Middle East”.

Trump’s idea included relocating two million Palestinians to neighbouring countries like Jordan and Egypt while the US reconstructed the area he called a “demolition site”.

He said he would turn Gaza into the “most spectacular development on Earth” but Palestinians have argued they will reconstruct the area themselves.

The President also said Palestinians would not be able to return to their homes in Gaza under his new plans.

Trump’s plan has sparked fury among Arab countries with Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia immediately rejecting the plan.

But Trump told reporters: “If they don’t, I would conceivably withhold aid, yes.”

In a Tuesday meeting with the King of Jordan, Trump reiterated the US would take Gaza move its population of two million Palestinians to other countries in the region.

Will the ceasefire hold?

Israel and Hamas’ ceasefire deal is looking increasingly shaky after the terror group protested about the amount of aid getting in.

The deal was agreed while Joe Biden was the US President with the Democrat sympathetic to the plight of Palestinians.

With Trump now in charge, he is taking a harder line and backs the IDF to eradicate the terror group by going into Gaza.

Underpinning this may be an assumption that most of the hostages are dead.

In August, Trump said the 250 hostages taken on October 7 were “largely dead”.

Only several dozen are said to remain in Gaza.

Trump has also made comments about removing the two million Palestinians to neighbouring countries and for the US to take ownership of Gaza strip.

The President has also pinned the terror attack on a “complete lack of US strength, leadership”.

Now, he might be wanting to look strong to deter future attacks on America and its allies coming from the region.