Israel has issued a warning that Hamas must release three hostages this weekend or risk the resumption of warfare in Gaza, following the militant group’s assertion of its commitment to the ceasefire agreement.
Palestinian sources indicated that there has been progress in attempts to salvage the truce, which faced a serious setback after Hamas announced it would not release hostages on Saturday, citing violations of the deal by Israel.
In response, Israel cautioned that military operations would recommence if the captives were not released as scheduled.
“We are eager to uphold it (the ceasefire) and expect the occupation to fully comply,” stated Hamas spokesman Abdel Latif al-Qanou, while noting that mediators were urging Israel “to reinstate the exchange process on Saturday”.
Israel maintained that Hamas must release “three live hostages” on Saturday as part of the truce agreement.
“If those three are not released, if Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will conclude,” warned government spokesman David Mencer.
Meanwhile, at the Rafah border crossing with Gaza, a line of bulldozers was observed waiting to enter the war-damaged area.
Egyptian state-affiliated media reported that heavy machinery and trucks carrying mobile homes were prepared to enter, but Israeli officials stated they would not be permitted to use the Rafah crossing.
Hamas has previously accused Israel of obstructing the arrival of essential heavy machinery needed to clear the extensive rubble throughout the region.
Relatives of hostages held in Gaza call for their release
US President Donald Trump cautioned this week that “hell” would break loose if Hamas failed to release “all” remaining hostages by Saturday.
If hostilities resume, Israel’s Minister of Defense Israel Katz asserted that “the new Gaza war … will not conclude without Hamas’s defeat and the release of all hostages”.
“This will also enable the realization of US President Trump’s vision for Gaza,” he added.
War raged for over 15 months before the ceasefire was implemented on Sunday, January 19.
Mr. Trump, whose return to the White House has emboldened the Israeli far right, ignited global outrage with a proposal for the United States to take control of Gaza and relocate its 2.4 million residents to Egypt or Jordan.
Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels threatened to carry out new attacks on Israel if it, along with the US, proceeded with his plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza.
The ceasefire, currently in its initial phase, has facilitated the release of Israeli captives in small groups in return for Palestinians held in Israeli custody.
The two parties, yet to agree on subsequent phases of the truce, have exchanged accusations of violations, generating concerns that violence could reignite.
Last week’s hostage release incited anger in Israel and beyond, as Hamas displayed three emaciated captives in front of a crowd and compelled them to speak.
The militant organization, in turn, accused Israel of failing to uphold its aid commitments under the agreement.
Displaced Palestinians make their way home in Gaza
However, analyst Mairav Zonszein from the International Crisis Group remarked that despite their public disagreements, both Israel and Hamas still wish to sustain the truce and have not “given up on anything yet”.
“They’re merely engaging in power games,” she explained.
In Israel, dozens of relatives of hostages held in Gaza blocked a motorway near Tel Aviv, waving signs and demanding that the ceasefire terms be honored.
The International Committee of the Red Cross, which has facilitated the hostage-prisoner exchanges, urged both sides to uphold the truce.
“Hundreds of thousands of lives depend on it,” the ICRC stated.
President Trump’s proposal regarding Gaza and relocating its over two million residents to Jordan or Egypt would, according to experts, contravene international law; however, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as “revolutionary”.
Hamas has called for worldwide “solidarity marches” this weekend to protest against “the plans to displace our Palestinian people from their land”.
Last week, Mr. Katz directed the Israeli military to prepare for “voluntary” departures from Gaza, indicating that troop reinforcements around Gaza have already begun.
Mr. Trump reiterated his Saturday deadline for the hostage release while hosting Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Tuesday.
During a recent phone conversation, King Abdullah and Egypt’s President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, expressed their unified support for the “full implementation” of the ceasefire and their opposition to the displacement of Palestinians.
Read more: Why is the Gaza truce under threat? Israel warns of ‘new Gaza war’ if hostages not released Latest Middle East stories
Many residents of Gaza have also voiced their dissent towards the plan.
“Who is Trump? Is he God Almighty? The land of Jordan is for Jordanians, and the land of Egypt belongs to Egyptians,” said Gaza City resident Abu Mohamed al-Husari.
“We are here, deeply rooted in Gaza – the resilient, besieged, and unbreakable Gaza.”
The October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel resulted in 1,211 deaths, primarily among civilians, based on official Israeli figures.
Militants also abducted 251 hostages, of which 73 are still in Gaza, including 35 that the Israeli military claims are deceased.
Israel’s retaliatory campaign has claimed the lives of at least 48,222 people in Gaza, most of whom are civilians, according to statistics from the Hamas-run health ministry, which are deemed reliable by the United Nations.
