Hamas says it will continue releasing hostages under Gaza deal

Hamas has stated its commitment to implementing the Gaza ceasefire agreement reached with Israel and will continue releasing hostages as planned, raising hopes of averting a renewed outbreak of war. Following talks in Cairo, the Palestinian armed group said that mediators from Egypt and Qatar had confirmed they would "remove obstacles." Reports from Egypt and Qatar also indicated that differences between the parties had been bridged, which bodes well for the continuation of the truce.

An Israeli government spokesperson did not comment on the reports but stated that the ceasefire agreement would end if Hamas failed to release three living hostages by Saturday. This follows Hamas's claim that Israel violated the agreement, delaying the release of hostages, and a similar ultimatum issued by the Israeli Prime Minister on Tuesday. These conflicting statements highlight the fragility of the current truce.

Hamas stated that Israel's violations included failing to allow the agreed-upon amount of crucial humanitarian aid, including tents and shelters, into Gaza, a claim Israel denied. The group threatened to undermine the agreement, prompting former U.S. President Donald Trump to suggest Israel should scrap the deal entirely and "let hell break loose" unless "all the hostages" were returned by Saturday. This external pressure adds another layer of complexity to the situation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he welcomed Trump's demand, warning: "If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday at noon (10:00 GMT), the ceasefire agreement will end, and the [Israeli military] will resume intense fighting until Hamas is utterly defeated." However, conflicting messages have emerged from Israeli officials as to whether he was demanding the release of all 76 hostages still held in Gaza (in line with Trump's ultimatum) or just the three hostages due to be released this weekend. The ambiguity surrounding Israel's demands creates uncertainty.

Egyptian security sources told the BBC on Wednesday that Egypt and Qatar were "intensifying diplomatic efforts to try to save the truce agreement," and Hamas's Gaza leader, Khalil al-Hayya, arrived in Cairo for talks with the head of Egyptian intelligence and other officials. Following the conclusion of talks on Thursday morning, Hamas issued a statement saying that the talks focused on the need to fulfill all the terms of the agreement, particularly regarding the entry of convoys, tents, heavy construction equipment, medical supplies, and fuel. The statement added that the talks were "positive" and that the mediators had agreed to work to "remove obstacles and bridge gaps." The commitment from mediators is a positive sign.

"Accordingly, Hamas reaffirms its commitment to implement the agreement as signed, including the exchange of prisoners according to the agreed-upon timeframes." Concurrently, Egypt's state-run Al Qahera TV reported that Egypt and Qatar had successfully "overcome obstacles" and that Israel and Hamas were committed to fully implementing the ceasefire agreement. Qatar's Al Jazeera also reported that the negotiations had been successful and that mobile homes and heavy machinery would be allowed into Gaza on Thursday. These reports suggest a potential breakthrough in the negotiations.

However, Israeli media subsequently quoted the Israeli Prime Minister's Office as saying that Al Jazeera's report was "fake news" and had no basis. Prime Minister's spokesperson, Omer Dostri, later clarified the denial on X, writing: "No convoys or heavy equipment have entered the Gaza Strip, nor has there been any coordination for this." The conflicting reports from different media outlets highlight the challenges in verifying information.

In a subsequent media briefing, when asked about Hamas's statement, another Israeli government spokesperson said that Israel's position on the ceasefire agreement was "very clear." "We have a framework for releasing hostages," David Mencer said. "That framework clearly states that Hamas terrorists must release three living hostages on Saturday." "If those three are not released, if Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday at noon, the ceasefire agreement will end." This reiteration of Israel's stance emphasizes the importance of the upcoming deadline.

War-weary Palestinians in Gaza said they were horrified by the prospect of a resumption of fighting after 16 months of devastating war. "When the truce was announced, we felt immense joy. However, with the announcement of the new crisis, fear has returned, [and] traders have begun to raise the prices of goods," Mouti al-Qedra told BBC Arabic's Gaza Lifeline program. "I constantly pray to God for lasting peace, especially after 65 members of the al-Qedra family were martyred. Now, we feel relieved that the crisis has been resolved, and we hope that there will be no more martyrs." The emotional toll of the conflict on the civilian population is evident.

The first phase of the ceasefire agreement should last six weeks and is expected to see a total of 33 Israeli hostages exchanged for approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees from Gaza. Since the truce came into effect on January 19, 16 living Israeli hostages have been released. Hamas has also handed over five Thai hostages outside the terms of the agreement. The remaining 17 Israeli hostages due to be released in the first phase are two children, one woman, five men over 50, and nine men under 50. They should be handed over in the next three weeks. Both sides have said that eight of the hostages have died, but only one has been named. The details of the agreement provide a structured framework for the exchange.

Negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire have yet to begin, which should see the remaining 43 hostages released, a full Israeli withdrawal, and a permanent ceasefire achieved. The agreement has also led to Israeli forces withdrawing from densely populated areas of Gaza, the return of hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to their homes in the north, and the allowance of hundreds of aid trucks into the area each day. The potential benefits of the agreement are significant for the people of Gaza.

The Israeli military launched an operation to destroy Hamas in response to the unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. According to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry, more than 48,230 people have died in Gaza since then. Much of Gaza's population has also been displaced multiple times, with an estimated nearly 70% of buildings damaged or destroyed, healthcare, water, sanitation, and hygiene systems collapsing, and a lack of food, fuel, medicine, and shelter. The scale of the devastation underscores the urgent need for a lasting resolution.