Hamas has ordered its senior leaders in Gaza to stop using mobile phones to hide their locations as they prepare for a restart of fighting in Gaza.

It comes after Israel threatened to resume “intense fighting” if Hamas fails to release hostages by Saturday. The hostage release was postponed by Hamas, citing Israeli breaches of the ceasefire deal

On Tuesday, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed troops to gather in positions in and around the Gaza Strip in preparation for an attack if Hamas does not release the hostages.

Sources within the terror group said it had ordered phones to be switched off to prevent Israel from tracking and assassinating senior commanders.

The decision to implement the phone ban was already planned to coincide with the end of the first phase of the hostage deal, but was pulled forward amid fears of resumption of war.