Hamas has reaffirmed its commitment to the Gaza ceasefire agreement with Israel, assuring that it will continue to release hostages as per the established schedule. This declaration comes amidst ongoing diplomatic negotiations aimed at averting a potential escalation of conflict.
Progress in negotiations
Following discussions in Cairo, representatives from Hamas reported that mediators from Egypt and Qatar have confirmed their intention to work on eliminating obstacles hindering the ceasefire. While no official statement has been released by Israel regarding these talks, sources indicate that both parties are making efforts to adhere to the terms of the agreement.
In recent developments, Israeli officials warned that the ceasefire would terminate if Hamas fails to return hostages by Saturday. Hamas, for its part, had previously announced a delay in releases, citing alleged violations by Israel, including insufficient humanitarian aid deliveries—an assertion Israel denies.
“If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon [10:00 GMT], the ceasefire will end and the [Israeli military] will resume intense fighting until the final defeat of Hamas,”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed these sentiments, expressing support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s stance, which suggested that Israel should abandon the agreement entirely unless all hostages are returned by the specified deadline. However, there remains some ambiguity among Israeli officials concerning whether all 76 hostages should be released or just the three scheduled for the upcoming weekend.
Humanitarian aid and hostages exchange
Amidst escalating tensions, an Egyptian security official stated that both Egypt and Qatar are intensifying their diplomatic efforts to ensure the continuation of the ceasefire. Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’s leader in Gaza, has been in Cairo for discussions with Egyptian intelligence officials to address the ongoing stalemate.
In a recent statement, Hamas emphasized the importance of fulfilling all terms of the ceasefire agreement, particularly concerning the delivery of essential humanitarian supplies, including medical aid, caravans, and heavy construction equipment. The group labeled the ongoing talks as “positive” and expressed hope for further progress.
Media reports from Egyptian state television indicated that Egypt and Qatar had successfully addressed several sticking points in the negotiations, leading to a commitment from both Israel and Hamas to fully implement the ceasefire terms. Furthermore, reports suggested that mobile homes and heavy machinery would soon be permitted into Gaza.
Contrarily, Israeli officials responded by labeling some of these reports as “fake news,” asserting that there had been no coordination regarding the entry of caravans or heavy equipment into the Gaza Strip.
The ceasefire agreement, initiated on January 19, aims to facilitate the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages for approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza within a six-week timeframe. As of now, 16 Israeli hostages have been released under this arrangement, along with five Thai nationals given up outside the formal terms of the deal.
Looking ahead, the second phase of negotiations, which will involve the release of 43 remaining hostages along with a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and a permanent ceasefire, has yet to commence. The ongoing deal has enabled Israeli forces to withdraw from heavily populated areas in Gaza, allowing hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return home and facilitating the daily entry of numerous aid lorries into the region.
Since the onset of the conflict, triggered by a major cross-border attack on October 7, resulting in significant casualties and hostages, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has intensified, with over 48,230 fatalities reported. The infrastructure has suffered extensive damage, with critical systems for healthcare, sanitation, and food supply in disarray, compounding the hardships faced by the local population.