Hamas has delayed the release of more Israeli hostages, accusing Israel of breaching the ceasefire agreement. The group claims Israel has delayed the return of displaced Palestinians, targeted them with shelling and gunfire, and hindered humanitarian aid. Israel strongly condemned the move, calling it a violation and preparing for any scenario in Gaza.
Hamas ' armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, has announced a postponement of the release of additional Israel i hostages, citing violations of the ceasefire agreement by Israel . The planned release, scheduled for Saturday, February 15, 2025, would have seen three more Israel is, captured during the October 7, 2023 attacks, freed by Hamas . In a statement, a Qassam Brigades spokesman accused Israel of failing to uphold its end of the agreement over the past three weeks.
He listed several alleged violations, including delaying the return of displaced Palestinians to the northern Gaza Strip, shelling and gunfire targeting them, and hindering the entry of agreed-upon humanitarian aid. Hamas asserted that it had fully honored its commitments under the deal. Consequently, the organization declared the postponement of the hostage release until Israel addresses these alleged breaches and provides retroactive compensation. They emphasized their continued commitment to the agreement's terms as long as Israel reciprocates.Israel has responded forcefully to Hamas' decision, denouncing it as a complete violation of the ceasefire agreement and the hostage release deal. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a statement instructing the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to prepare at the highest level of alert for any potential scenario in Gaza and to safeguard Israeli communities. He vowed to prevent a return to the situation that existed prior to the ceasefire, referring to the October 7 attacks. This latest development comes after Hamas released a group of hostages, including three Israeli men and five Thai nationals, over the weekend. The released hostages, appearing gaunt, were paraded before a crowd of masked and armed Hamas fighters before being freed. One of the released Israelis, 52-year-old Eli Sharabi, was even placed on a podium and interviewed by armed Hamas personnel, making statements critical of the Israeli government under apparent duress. The hostage deal, which began on January 19, 2025, is currently in its initial 42-day phase. However, progress on extending the agreement has been limited. An Israeli delegation is currently in Qatar to negotiate the second phase of the deal, which would involve the release of more hostages and prisoners. This development coincides with President Trump's recent reiteration of his controversial proposal for the United States to assume control of Gaza, rebuild it, and subsequently relocate Palestinians.
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