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Hamas said Monday that it had postponed the planned release of Israeli hostages this Saturday “until further notice” and accused Israel of not sticking to the complicated ceasefire agreement on both sides.
The move is the latest and potentially the most serious in a series of conflicts that threatened fragile deals three weeks ago and a weaker deal that stopped the 15-month war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. It’s something.
Under the terms of the Third Phase Agreement, Hamas has gradually released some of the Israeli hostages he holds in Gaza in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons.
However, while the five exchanges took place, Hamas accused Israel of violating various other aspects of the transaction. It said Israel delayed the return of Palestinians to North Gaza, firing fire in several areas, limiting humanitarian invasions to crushed enclaves.
Both sides exchanged allegations of breach of the contract throughout the last three weeks, resulting in some exchanges being temporarily delayed, but ultimately did not derail the transaction.
Hamas added that the postponement of the next hostage release remains in place until Israel “complies with the agreement and retroactively compensates the past few weeks.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz branded Hamas’ announcement “a complete violation of the ceasefire agreement” and puts “highest level warnings on all possible scenarios in Gaza, protecting communities in southern Israel I ordered him to do so.” .
In the first part of the contract taken away by US-led mediators, Hamas intended to release 33 Israeli hostages, including all children, women and men over the age of 50. 700 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas also released five Thai workers who seized during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which caused the war.
The second stage of the deal, in which Hamas is intended to free all remaining living hostages – Palestinian prisoners, full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, in exchange for the lasting end of the battle – It is scheduled to start in March.
However, negotiations have not yet begun with details. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – under strong pressure from his far-right allies to resume the war when the first phase is over – last week he said he would continue the fight until Hamas was destroyed, He questioned the possibility that the second stage would become effective.
The long-term deal outlook has been questioned by President Donald Trump’s announcement that the US president would like him to take over Gaza and resettle a population of more than 2 million people elsewhere. The idea sparked fierce opposition from the Palestinians, the Arab world, and many in the international community.
Trump, in an excerpt from an interview with Fox News, airing later Monday, shows that the Palestinians placed under his plan have the right to go back “as they have much better housing.” He said he would not have done so. This was inconsistent with US authorities who had suggested that their resettlement would be temporary.
“I’m talking about creating a permanent place for them if they have to go back now. … It’s not habitable,” he said. “Think of that as future real estate development.”
He also reiterated his claims to persuade Egypt and Jordan to bring Palestinian refugees.
Other Western and Arab countries have argued for Palestinian authorities (exercise limited control in parts of the occupied West Bank) that should take over governance in Gaza once the war is over.
Amid signs of the PA’s efforts to strengthen its international status, its President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday pays profits to the families of Palestinian prisoners, including those convicted of attacks that killed Israelis. An order has been issued to overhaul the system that exposes the system.
The US and Israel have long criticised the system, saying that they reward violence against Israel because payments were linked to prison time spent in prison. In the new system, profits are linked to the financial needs of the family.
