Hamas has said it will continue with the Israeli hostage deal as planned, in a major about-turn by the terrorist group.

The organisation said on Thursday that Egyptian and Qatari mediators had agreed to “remove all hurdles” and that it would implement the existing arrangement.

It means three further Israeli hostages should be freed on Saturday in return for scores of Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas announced on Tuesday that it was suspending hostage releases, citing alleged Israeli violations of the deal.

It prompted Donald Trump to state that all remaining hostages should be freed by midday on Saturday or “all hell is going to break out”.

Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the IDF to reinforce around Gaza in readiness for a resumption of war and he adopted Mr Trump’s threatening language.

However, he was ambiguous as to whether Israel would accept three hostages rather than the “all” demanded in Washington.

While officials linked to him gave off-the-record briefings that Israel would only accept all the hostages, the prime minister’s formal statement did not specify.

In recent days confidence has built among Israeli officials that Hamas did not have the appetite for the return of war and that the deal could be restored.