Launched hostage Ohad Ben Ami draped in an Israeli flag arrives at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Middle – Ichilov Hospital by helicopter, on Feb. 8, in Tel Aviv, Israel.
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TEL AVIV, Israel — The militant group Hamas mentioned Monday it might postpone the discharge of the following group of Israeli hostages scheduled for this Saturday over accusations of Israeli violations of a ceasefire settlement, imperiling the delicate truce between Israel and Hamas.
Hamas’ announcement comes as President Trump mentioned in a Fox Information interview posted on-line Monday that Palestinians wouldn’t be allowed to return to Gaza beneath his plan for the U.S. to take over Gaza and relocate the enclave’s residents.
It’s the most severe problem to a monthlong ceasefire that has seen Israeli hostages exchanged for Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Abu Obeida, the navy spokesman for Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades, accused Israel of violating the phrases of the deal and mentioned the following launch of hostages could be postponed till Israel adheres to the settlement. He mentioned Israel is “delaying the return of the displaced to the northern Gaza Strip, focusing on them with shelling and gunfire in varied areas of the strip, and never permitting reduction provides of every kind to enter as agreed upon.”
Israeli Protection Minister Israel Katz mentioned the Hamas announcement “is an entire violation of the ceasefire settlement and the hostage launch deal,” and ordered the navy “to organize on the highest stage of readiness for any potential situation in Gaza and to make sure the safety of Israeli communities.”
In response to the Hamas announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the nation’s safety chiefs and referred to as a Tuesday morning assembly together with his Cupboard, based on an Israeli official with information of the topic who was not licensed to talk publicly.
Hamas mentioned it remained dedicated to the settlement and suspending the discharge of hostages was a “warning” to Israel to stick to the deal’s phrases.
Within the preliminary stage of the ceasefire settlement, a complete of 33 Israeli hostages are to be freed by the tip of this month in alternate for almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Sixteen of these hostages have already been freed in current weeks, and three extra had been to be launched by Hamas this Saturday. Greater than 70 hostages are at the moment held by Hamas, a lot of whom are believed to be useless, based on Israel.
A gaggle advocating for the discharge of all hostages mentioned that they had “urgently requested help from the mediating international locations to assist restore and implement the prevailing deal successfully.” The Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board added that they stood by the Israeli authorities and that they “encourage sustaining the circumstances” to free all of the remaining hostages.
Three male hostages launched final Saturday appeared gaunt and frail, and Israelis reacted with anger and horror at their look. Some Palestinians launched by Israel on Saturday additionally appeared gaunt, and 7 had been taken to hospitals.
In alternate for the Israeli hostages, 670 Palestinian prisoners and detainees have been free of Israeli jails to this point. 5 Thai hostages had been additionally launched. They’d been working in Israel as agricultural laborers, and weren’t a part of the deal.
The following stage of the deal is meant to see extra hostages launched for prisoners and an extra withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
Trump’s Center East envoy, Steve Witkoff, performed a key position in persuading Netanyahu to simply accept the ceasefire’s first part, which started on Jan. 19.
The Israeli chief’s far-right allies, nevertheless, have threatened to deliver down the federal government if Israel doesn’t resume the struggle in Gaza and eradicate Hamas rule there.
Hamas has lengthy accused Netanyahu of making obstacles within the deal. Netanyhu and his allies have, in flip, accused Hamas of demanding adjustments to agreements already made.
The U.S. has been serving to mediate the talks, alongside Egypt and Qatar, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to go to Israel and key Arab states — Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — this week, the State Division mentioned.
President Trump’s plans to have the U.S. take over Gaza and relocate the almost 2 million Palestinians elsewhere have invited the ire of Hamas’ management in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority within the West Financial institution, in addition to rejection from regional leaders and lots of U.S allies.
Egypt introduced Sunday it might host a summit of Arab leaders later within the month, amid alarm within the area over President Trump’s proposals.
A lot of the hostages on the listing of 33 had been among the many greater than 250 individuals captured in the course of the Hamas-led assault on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which led to the struggle in Gaza.
Round 1,200 Israelis had been killed within the Hamas assault, based on Israeli officers, whereas greater than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, based on well being officers within the enclave.
Nuha Musleh in Ramallah, West Financial institution, Itay Stern in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Ahmed Abuhamda in Cairo contributed to this report.
