Hamas says it’ll delay captive release indefinitely, cites Israel’s deal ‘violations’
The spokesperson of Hamas’s armed wing has issued a statement on Telegram saying the group will delay the release of more Israeli captives planned for Saturday “until further notice”.
“Over the past three weeks, the resistance leadership monitored the enemy’s violations and its non-compliance with the terms of the agreement,” Abu Obeida said.
“These violations include delaying the return of displaced persons to northern Gaza, targeting them with shelling and gunfire in various areas of the Gaza Strip, and failing to allow the entry of relief materials in all forms as agreed upon. Meanwhile, the resistance has fulfilled all its obligations.”
The Qassam Brigades spokesperson added the decision to delay the release of captives will “remain in place until the occupying entity complies with past obligations and compensates retroactively. We affirm our commitment to the terms of the agreement as long as the occupation adheres to them.”
‘Fear and anticipation’ as Hamas delays captives’ release
The announcement by the Qassam Brigades spokesperson is a significant development.
It’s worth noting that civilians did not manage to immediately return back to the north of the Strip as there were a couple of days with delays.
Many civilians once they returned back to their houses in Rafah and in the eastern areas of Gaza have been shot and killed by the Israeli forces, while the number of wounded Palestinian patients who were evacuated, as well the humanitarian aid trucks that have entered Gaza, were fewer than what had been promised in the ceasefire agreement.
This development comes in light also of the latest statements made by US President Donald Trump, who has completely raised concerns about the sustainability of the ceasefire deal.
All this means that the entire atmosphere at the moment is quite charged with fear and anticipation.
Israel on high alert as Hamas announces captive release postponed
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz blamed Hamas for violating the Gaza truce after the Palestinian group announced it’s halting the release of captives because of Israeli violations.
“I have instructed military to prepare at the highest level of readiness in Gaza and to defend our communities,” Katz said.
“Hamas’s announcement it will stop releasing hostages is a complete violation of the ceasefire deal,” he added.
‘Hamas decided to take a stand’
Ori Goldberg, an Israeli political commentator, says Hamas is “calling Israel’s and President Trump’s bluff” by halting the captive release.
“Israel has certainly been violating the ceasefire agreement over the past several weeks – denying entry of tents and other equipment that’s part of humanitarian aid, shooting and killing,” he told Al Jazeera.
“Hamas could’ve done this earlier. They choose to do this now because everyone is enchanted with the Trump plan and Hamas decided to take a stand. These are negotiation tactics, and I’m fairly certain a solution can be worked out.”
‘The Israelis are intentionally sabotaging the deal’: Hamas official
Senior Hamas official Basem Naim had told Al Jazeera before the group called for an indefinite delay in the release of Israeli captives that Israel is not meeting the terms of the ceasefire.
“In the last three weeks after signing the deal, we have been in very serious talks and negotiations with the mediators – the Egyptians, the Qataris and the United States – about the daily violations by the Israelis of the deal,” Naim said.
He noted 25 Palestinians have been killed and dozens wounded by Israeli forces after the ceasefire went into effect.
Hamas officials called for hundreds of thousands of tents to be brought into Gaza to shelter displaced people as they faced winter weather, and the necessary aid has not arrived. “We are lacking any sources of electricity. We have called for generators to enter the Strip,” Naim said.
“We have told them clearly: ‘How can we continue the prisoner exchange, including the dead bodies of the captured Israelis, if until now we don’t have any heavy machinery?’
“We are committed to the ceasefire agreement. We have done our part. We have fulfilled all our obligations, and we are still committed, and we are working to avoid any obstacles and overcome any challenges. The Israelis are intentionally sabotaging the deal and undermining the agreement.
