The Israeli Prime Minister’s Statement on Hamas’ Termination of the First-Phase U.S.-Gazah Interaction
The announcement came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met his security cabinet a day after Hamas said that it was delaying the next hostage release, accusing Israel of reneging on the terms of the first phase of a ceasefire agreement, painstakingly negotiated after more than 15 months of war with the help of the U.S., Qatar and Egypt.
President Trump’s plans to have the U.S. take over Gaza and relocate the nearly 2 million Palestinians elsewhere have invited the ire of Hamas’ leadership in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, as well as rejection from regional leaders and many U.S allies.
Israel violated the terms of the deal, according to the military spokesman for Hamas. He said Israel is “delaying the return of the displaced to the northern Gaza Strip, targeting them with shelling and gunfire in various areas of the Strip, and not allowing relief supplies of all kinds to enter as agreed upon.”
He asked the military to make sure they were prepared for all possible scenarios in Gaza and to ensure the protection of Israeli communities.
A senior official with knowledge of the matter said that Israel expects to release three hostages on Saturday and another six or seven days later. All hostages who are believed to be alive, and who were supposed to be released in the first phase of the deal in the coming days, would be freed more quickly because this would mean they are still alive.
Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, played a key role in persuading Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept the ceasefire’s first phase, which began on Jan. 19.
The Israeli leader’s far-right allies could bring down the government if Israel does not resume the war in Gaza.
Hamas has long accused Netanyahu of creating obstacles in the deal. Netanyahu and his allies have, in turn, accused Hamas of demanding changes to agreements already made.
The Secretary of State will travel to Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab-Emirates this week, the State Department said.
The Gaza Strip is not a safe haven for militants: Israel’s frustrated response to President Trump’s threat to release hostages
Around 1,200 Israelis were killed in the Hamas attack, according to Israeli officials, while more than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to health officials in the enclave.
TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel threatened Tuesday to resume hostilities with Hamas in Gaza unless the militant group releases hostages under a ceasefire agreement this weekend.
Netanyahu added that he welcomed President Trump’s remarks Monday demanding the release of hostages by Saturday, “as well as his revolutionary vision for Gaza’s future.”
Hamas alleged that Israel has not allowed temporary shelters, tents, debris removal equipment and fuel that it says are required by the ceasefire agreement into the enclave. Israel controls all aid that enters the Gaza Strip.
Thousands of Palestinians have poured north in Gaza after the ceasefire began Jan. 19, many on foot, returning to houses and apartment buildings that have been destroyed in fighting that has seen over 47,000 Palestinians killed, according to Gaza health authorities.