Hamas has reversed its declaration it would stop releasing hostages, and temporarily halting Gaza from plummeting into all-out war again.
The militant group vowed to go ahead with plans to free three more Israeli captives on Saturday, saving the increasingly fragile ceasefire deal. It had put Israeli troops on high-alert after threatening to delay the next release, accusing Israel of failing to allow tents and shelters into Gaza as agreed. Israel had threatened to renew its offensive if hostages were not freed, and US President Donald Trump vowed “hell will break out” if all hostages are not released.
The fragile ceasefire has mostly held since it started on January 19, with phase one of the negotiated temporary peace deal. During the first phase Hamas has committed to freeing a total of 33 hostages captured in its October 7, 2023, attack in exchange for Israel releasing nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The sides have carried out five swaps since January 19, freeing 21 hostages and over 730 Palestinian prisoners so far. The war could resume if no agreement is reached on the more complicated second phase of the ceasefire, which calls for the return of all remaining hostages and an extended truce.
Tensions have soared in the Israeli-occupied West Bank since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack out of the Gaza Strip triggered the war there. So far in the war in Gaza more than 48,000 Palestinians have been killed, incuding many women and children. And more than 800 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, where Israel has stepped up security operations, particularly in the flashpoint city of Jenin.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a key security assessment meeting at his Southern Command headquarters along with key intelligence and defence officials. An official in Gaza’s Health Ministry said that over the past 12 days, 452 sick and wounded people and 620 people escorting them have left the Gaza Strip. Officials in Gaza said that even though the ceasefire is holding three people were killed in the Strip over the past day.
And ongoing digging for around 14,000 corpses in the rubble has led to the recovery of 14 bodies extracted from ruins. As well as those killed 111,676 Palestinians are believed to have been wounded.
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