Categories: World

Will ceasefire blow up? Hamas wants to delay hostage release

American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel, 65, is escorted by Hamas fighters as he is handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza City, Saturday Feb.1, 2025.(AP Photo/Mohammed Hajjar)

Hamas has announced a delay in the next hostage release, accusing Israel of violating the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

Hamas Accuses Israel of Ceasefire Violations

The six-week ceasefire, during which Hamas agreed to release 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, is now at risk. The latest exchange was scheduled for Saturday, with three Israeli hostages set to be freed in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida accused Israel of breaching the agreement by delaying the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, targeting them with airstrikes and gunfire, and failing to facilitate humanitarian aid as agreed.

A view of the destruction caused by the Israeli air and ground offensive in Jabaliya, Gaza Strip, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz responded by saying the delay was “a complete violation” of the ceasefire agreement and placed the Israeli military on high alert.

Hamas Condemns Trump’s Gaza ‘Ownership’ Plan

A senior Hamas official, Izzat al-Rishq, slammed President Donald Trump’s recent statement about U.S. “ownership” of Gaza as “absurd.” Al-Rishq said Trump’s comments demonstrated “a deep ignorance of Palestine and the region” and that any attempts to dictate the future of Gaza without Palestinian consent would fail.

Trump previously stated that Palestinians in Gaza would not have a right to return under his proposed plan, contradicting claims from other officials in his administration who suggested relocation would be temporary.

Israel Reacts to Hamas’ Hostage Delay

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held emergency consultations with security officials following Hamas’ announcement. An Israeli official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that Netanyahu moved up a scheduled Security Cabinet meeting to Tuesday morning to discuss a potential response.

Israeli officials said they had updated all hostage families on the situation.

Palestinian Authority Ends Payments to Prisoners’ Families

In a significant shift, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has officially ended the controversial policy of providing stipends to the families of Palestinian prisoners, including those convicted of deadly attacks on Israelis.

The move is seen as an effort to improve relations with the Trump administration, which, along with Israel, has long criticized the so-called “martyrs fund” for incentivizing violence. Under the new policy, financial aid will now be based on financial need rather than the length of a prison sentence.

Herbert Bauernebel

Herbert Bauernebel has been reporting from New York since 1999 and currently works for Bild.de, OE24 TV, and US Live. He also runs the news portal AmerikaReport.de. Bauernebel has covered nearly all major US events of the past quarter-century, including 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Barack Obama’s election, Donald Trump’s surprise victory, the pandemic, last year’s election showdown, as well as natural disasters such as hurricanes and oil spills. He has also reported firsthand on international events, including the Asian tsunami, the Haiti earthquake, and the Fukushima disaster. He lives in Brooklyn with his family and holds degrees in communication and political science from the University of Vienna. Bauernebel is the author of a book about his experiences on 9/11, And the Air Was Full of Ash: 9/11 – The Day That Changed My Life.