Hamas says it is suspending the release of Israeli hostages from Gaza – leaving a ceasefire agreed with Israel to end 15 months of war inside Gaza on a knife edge.
Israel and Hamas are in the middle of a six-week truce during which Hamas is releasing dozens of the hostages captured in its attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023 in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
The sides have carried out five swaps since the ceasefire went into effect last month, freeing 21 hostages and more than 730 prisoners. Both sides have repeatedly accused the other of violating the terms of the ceasfire.
The next exchange was scheduled for Saturday, releasing three Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for Hamas’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, accused Israel of systematically violating the ceasefire agreement over the past three weeks, and said Saturday’s release would be delayed.
“The resistance leadership has closely monitored the enemy’s violations and its failure to uphold the terms of the agreement,” he said.
“This includes delays in allowing displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza, targeting them with air strikes and gunfire across various areas of the Strip, and failing to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid as agreed.”
In response, a statement from the Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, said: “Hamas’ announcement to stop releasing Israeli hostages is a complete violation of the ceasefire agreement and the deal to release the hostages.
“I have instructed the [Israeli military] to prepare at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza and to protect the communities.
“We will not allow a return to the reality of 7 October.”
The families of the hostages still held inside Gaza have feared an end to the ceasefire before the captives were fully released. In a statement, a group representing a majority of the families urged mediators Qatar, the US and Egypt to get the deal back on track.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said: “In response to Hamas’s recent announcement, we have urgently requested assistance from the mediating countries to help restore and implement the existing deal effectively. We stand with the Israeli government and encourage maintaining the conditions that will ensure the successful continuation of the agreement, leading to the safe return of our brothers and sisters.
“Recent evidence from those released, as well as the shocking conditions of the hostages released last Saturday, leaves no room for doubt – time is of the essence, and all hostages must be urgently rescued from this horrific situation.”
An Israeli delegation that flew to Doha for talks on the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire at the weekend has returned, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Monday, amid growing doubts over the process to end the war in Gaza.
