Fears over Gaza truce as Hamas delays next release of Israeli hostages

Hamas has said it will delay the release of more hostages after accusing Israel of violating their ceasefire deal.

It said Saturday’s handover would not go ahead, presenting the Gaza truce with its first major crisis.

A spokesman claimed violations had included “delaying the return of the displaced to the northern Gaza Strip, and targeting them with shelling and gunfire”.

Trump latest: ‘Palestinians will have no right to Gaza return’

Abu Obeida said Hamas remained committed if Israel kept to the terms, but that the 15 February handover was postponed “until the occupation commits to and compensates for the past weeks”.

Egyptian security sources told Reuters that mediators now fear the deal will break down.

They said Hamas believes Israel isn’t serious about the ceasefire – which began on 19 January and is in its first 42-day phase.

The last hostage release took place at the weekend and saw three Israeli men set free. Five Thai citizens released last month were also finally reunited with their families in Bangkok.

They were among about 250 people taken during the 7 October 2023 attack, when 1,200 people were murdered.

Five swaps have taken place so far, with 21 hostages and more than 730 Palestinian prisoners released.

Saturday’s exchange was due to involve three more Israelis and hundreds of Palestinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will now bring forward an assessment with his security cabinet to today, according to an Israeli official.

Defence minister Israel Katz said any delay in releasing hostages would be “a complete violation” and he had instructed troops to be on highest alert.

The Hostages and Missing Family Forum called on mediating countries to restore the deal, saying “time is of the essence” and citing “the shocking conditions of the hostages released last Saturday”.

Biggest threat to the ceasefire so far

Strangely, Hamas makes no reference to President Trump’s vow to “own” Gaza, evict Palestinians from the Strip and prevent them from returning. A plan that has been jumped on by many in Israel, including Benjamin Netanyahu.

It’s possible Hamas is also seeking to capitalise on the shock and anger inside Israel after the three hostages released last Saturday were so emaciated.

Many in Israel blame Netanyahu for not doing a deal sooner and urged him to make sure the ceasefire holds. Hamas might be looking to add to that pressure.

The ceasefire has been fragile since it was agreed, and has overcome a number of bumps.

There is still five days until the next release, time for the mediators to mend the differences, but this is the biggest threat to the ceasefire so far and could see it collapse altogether.

The potential delay comes as Donald Trump reiterated his proposal for the US to take over and rebuild Gaza, adding for the first time that Palestinians forced out would not get the right to return.

He said he was committed to “buying and owning” the enclave and Palestinians would get “safe communities, a little bit away from where they are, where all of this danger is”.

Mt Trump said Arab countries would agree to take in the two million-plus Gazans after speaking with him.

However, countries such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt, as well as the West, have lambasted the plan and reiterated the need for a two-state solution.

As part of the ceasefire deal, Israeli forces also pulled back from a key passage through Gaza on Sunday.

The four-mile-long Netzarim corridor separates northern Gaza from the south, and hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have now crossed back over.

However, Israel pushed back the withdrawal by a few days in protest at the chaotic release of hostages Arbel Yehud and Gadi Moses.

This may be what Hamas is referencing what it talks of “delaying the return of the displaced”.

There have also been examples of Israeli troops shooting at or near Palestinians approaching Israeli forces after being warned to stay back.

So far, little progress has been made on an extension to the first six-week phase of the ceasefire.

A delegation from Israel has arrived in Qatar for further talks amid concern the deal might collapse before all remaining hostages are freed.

Israel has previously said it will not agree to a complete withdrawal from Gaza until Hamas’s military and political capabilities are eliminated.

Hamas has countered that it will not hand over the final hostages until Israel removes all its troops from Gaza.

This article was originally published by Sky.com. Read the original article here.

Biggest threat to the ceasefire so far

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