Hamas has announced the postponement of the release of the next batch of Israeli hostages, stating it will be "until further notice." Hamas accused Israel of failing to adhere to the terms of the ceasefire agreement. The release of some Israeli hostages was originally scheduled for Saturday, February 15th, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
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02-11, 2025Abu Obaida, a spokesman for Hamas's al-Qassam Brigades, stated that the hostage release operation would be "delayed until further notice, pending the occupation's (Israel's) adherence to, and retroactive fulfillment of, its obligations over the past few weeks." He added, "As long as the occupation adheres to the terms of the agreement, we will reaffirm our commitment to the agreement." This commitment emphasizes the group's desire for reciprocal action from Israel.
Abu Obaida indicated that the postponement would last until Israel ceases its attacks on Palestinians returning to their homes in Gaza and allows aid to enter the Gaza Strip at previously agreed-upon levels. In response, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that Hamas's move was "a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement and the agreement to release hostages." He stated that he had instructed the military to "prepare for any scenario in Gaza with the highest level of readiness."
Concurrently, influential right-wing lawmaker Itamar Ben-Gvir called for "a massive aerial and ground offensive on Gaza and a complete halt to humanitarian aid, including electricity, fuel, and water." On the other hand, the "Hostages and Missing Families Forum," which advocates for the rights of Israeli hostages, stated that it had sought intervention from the mediating countries "to restore the implementation of the agreement," and called on the government to "refrain from taking actions that jeopardize the implementation of the signed agreement."
Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters that he could not confirm whether the ceasefire would hold. At a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said the U.S. would "take over" the Gaza Strip and "own it," forcibly expelling Palestinians from the enclave. Hamas condemned Trump's plans, stating that these plans would "bring them down, just like we brought down previous projects." Hamas, as well as some Israelis, have also accused the government of dragging out negotiations. Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu of stalling for time and endangering the lives of those still held captive in Gaza.
