Hamas said on Thursday it would release three more Israeli hostages as planned, paving the way for a major dispute over the Gaza Strip ceasefire.
Hamas had threatened to postpone the release of the next prisoner, accusing Israel of failing to meet its obligations permitted in tents and shelters, as well as other alleged breach of the armistice. With the support of U.S. President Donald Trump, Israel threatens to renew its offensive if the hostages are not released.
Israel has no immediate comment on Hamas' announcement, but it should allow the ceasefire to continue temporarily, although the future of the truce remains doubtful.
Hamas said his delegation held talks with Egyptian officials in Cairo and contacted the Qatari Prime Minister to involve more shelters in Gaza, medical supplies, fuel and heavy equipment to remove rubble – a major demand in recent days. It said in a statement that the mediators have committed to “removing all obstacles.”
Shortly after the announcement, Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif al-Qanou confirmed by phone with the Associated Press that three hostages would be released on Saturday.
Egypt-owned state-owned Qahera TV is close to the country's Ministry of Security Services, reporting that Egypt and Qatar have successfully settled the dispute. The war ended for more than 15 months, and the two Arab countries served as key mediators in Hamas and helped brokers enter into ceasefires in January.
Egyptian media also played videotapes showing trucks carrying temporary housing and bulldozers on the Egyptian side of Rafah crossing Gaza. They reported that the truck headed to Israel's inspection area and then crossed Gaza.
Trump introduces more uncertainty
The truce faces even greater challenges in the coming weeks. The first phase is scheduled to end in early March, and no substantive negotiations have been conducted in Phase II, where Hamas will release dozens of hostages in exchange for the war.
Trump's proposal to evacuate about 2 million Palestinians from Gaza and settle in other countries further doubt the future of the truce. The plan was welcomed by Israel but strongly rejected by Palestinian and Arab countries that refused to accept any influx of refugees. Human rights groups say that under international law, this could constitute a war crime.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right allies have called for a resumption of the recent historical movement of the war after the first phase.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when militants led by Hamas rushed into Israel, killing about 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and kidnapped about 250 people. More than half of the deals with Hamas or other agreements have been released, eight have been rescued, and dozens of bodies have been recovered.
The captives were one of Hamas’ only bargaining chips, and if the war was thought to resume, it might be difficult to get the team to commit to further issuance.
Trump sent a different signal about his opinion on Gaza.
He won the ceasefire honor just days before taking office after more than one year of negotiations under the Biden administration. But he also expressed doubts about how the agreement unfolded, saying it depends on whether Israel resumes the war while pledging to continue U.S. military support.
The hostages of 73 people have not been released, about half of them are considered dead. Almost all the remaining hostages were men, including Israeli soldiers.
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, the war killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, mainly women and children, not to say how many fighters there were. Israel said it has killed more than 17,000 militants, but provided no evidence.
Israel's offensive destroyed much of Gaza. At its peak, the battle displaced 90% of the region's 2.3 million people. Thousands have returned home since the ceasefire was called, although many have found only rubble and buried human remains and unexploded ordnance.
A “new war” may be worse
Israeli Defense Minister Katz responded to Trump, saying Wednesday that if Hamas stops releasing hostages, “all hell will collapse.” He said the “new Gaza War” would not end until Hamas was defeated, which would allow Trump’s vision of mass displacement to take place.
There are far fewer hostages left in Gaza, and Israel's army will have more freedom of movement.
It will also face restrictions from the United States, the major U.S. military patron. While providing important military and diplomatic support, the Biden administration occasionally urged Israel to allow more aid and at one point suspended some weapons. It also said that the Palestinian population of Gaza should not be permanently displaced.
Trump lifted restrictions on arms transfers and his administration is urging $7 billion worth of weapons approved by Joe Biden.
Trump said Gaza's population should be resettled elsewhere in the region, and wealthy Arab countries have paid the price. He suggested that once the battle was over, Israel would transfer control of Gaza to the United States and then redevelop it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
Israel Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the principal partner of Netanyahu's fragile ruling coalition, called for the resumption of the war, the “voluntary immigration” of the large number of Palestinians in Gaza and the Jewish settlements were reestablished.
Lidmann reported from Jerusalem.
& Copy 2025 Canadian Press
