Fears are growing for the Gaza ceasefire after Hamas suddenly cancelled the next hostage releases scheduled for Friday.
It followed claims Israel had breached an agreement to allow Gazans to return to the northern Strip, and President Trump’s threats on Gaza’s future. Trump further fuelled the row over Gaza’s future when he confirmed Palestinians will not have the right to return to Gaza under his plan for US “ownership” of the war-torn territory.
Pressure is already mounting on the fragile ceasefire due to the poor treatment of hostages – illustrated by their starved appearance during their release at the weekend. Hamas said in a statement: “During the past three weeks, the resistance leadership has monitored the enemy’s violations and failure to abide by the terms of the agreement.”
It accused Israel of “delaying the return of displaced people to the northern Gaza Strip, targeting them with shelling and gunfire in various areas of the Gaza Strip, and not allowing relief supplies of all kinds to enter as agreed upon, while the resistance has implemented all its obligations.”
The militant group added: “Accordingly, the handover of the Zionist prisoners who were scheduled to be released next Saturday, February 15, 2025, will be postponed until further notice and until the occupation commits to and compensates for the entitlements of the past weeks retroactively.”
“We affirm our commitment to the terms of the agreement as long as the occupation commits to them.”
The shock postponement during the afternoon came after the fifth prisoner -hostage swap over the weekend as the deadline for negotiations on phase two of the ceasefire looms.
Further fears for the ceasefire escalated over President Trump’s claims the US will “own” and control Gaza and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claiming Palestinians could have a state in Saudi Arabia. The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whose country has led the way in negotiations, stated: “The State of Qatar condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli Prime Minister’s provocative statements regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state on the territories of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“Qatar considers these statements a flagrant violation of international law and a blatant infringement of the United Nations Charter.”
So far 18 Israeli captives of 33 in the first phase of the ceasefire releasees and 550 Palestinian prisoners have been exchanged. Hamas’ Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya said today (Mon) of Trump’s plans: “We will bring them down as we brought down projects before them.”
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