Hamas has said it will delay the scheduled release of hostages “until further notice,” accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement. Israel has denied any violations of the terms.
Under the first phase of the agreement, Hamas is required to release small groups of Israeli hostages each week, in exchange for Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the ceasefire should be cancelled if Hamas does not return all the remaining hostages by Saturday.
Background
Following 15 months of war, a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel came into effect on 19 January.
The agreement has three phases. Under Phase 1, hostilities between Israel and Hamas were required to cease.
During this time, Hamas was required to release 33 hostages over a six week period, including women, children, older adults and the wounded.
In exchange, Israel was required to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including several serving life sentences.
Hamas
In a statement overnight, Hamas accused Israel of delaying Palestinians’ return to northern Gaza, attacking civilians, and blocking aid.
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It said it would postpone the next release of hostages – scheduled for Saturday – ”until [Israel] commits to and compensates for the entitlements of the past weeks”.
In a follow-up statement, Hamas said it had given five days of warning about the delay “in order to give mediators sufficient time to pressure [Israel] into fulfilling its obligations.”
Israel
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz called the delay to the release of hostages an “outright violation of the ceasefire”. The Israeli government also rejected claims about the blocking of aid.
He said that he had ordered the Israeli army to “prepare at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza and to protect the [border] communities.”
Katz added: “We will not allow a return to the reality of October 7.”
U.S.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump said Israel’s response to Hamas was its decision to make.
However, he said: “As far as I’m concerned, if all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock... I would say cancel [the ceasefire] and all bets are off, and let hell break out.”
During a joint press conference with Netanyahu last week, Trump said he wanted the U.S. to “take over” and re-develop the Gaza Strip.
