Hamas has announced a delay in the planned release of Israeli hostages, originally scheduled for Saturday, accusing Israel of failing to uphold its commitments under the fragile ceasefire agreement.
According to report by Daily Mail on Monday, February 10, 2025, In a statement released Monday on Telegram, Abu Obaida, the spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, declared that the scheduled release would be postponed “until further notice, and until the occupation commits to and compensates for the entitlements of the past weeks retroactively.”
The delay marks a significant escalation in tensions between Israel and Hamas, who have been engaged in a six-week ceasefire. The truce was established as part of a phased agreement in which Hamas would release dozens of Israeli hostages taken during its October 7, 2023, attack in exchange for the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The agreement also included provisions for the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza and the facilitation of humanitarian aid.
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Since the ceasefire took effect, both sides have engaged in five successful prisoner swaps, leading to the release of 21 Israeli hostages and over 730 Palestinian detainees. However, the latest announcement from Hamas signals potential cracks in the agreement.
Abu Obaida accused Israel of systematically violating the ceasefire over the past three weeks, citing “delays in allowing displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza, targeting them with airstrikes and gunfire across various areas of the Strip, and failing to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid as agreed.” He stated that Hamas remained committed to the terms of the agreement but only if Israel upheld its side of the deal.
Israel has yet to respond to Hamas’ claims, but the delay in hostage releases adds uncertainty to the already fragile truce. Until now, despite sporadic incidents of violence, the ceasefire had largely held. However, Israel has consistently maintained that it reserves the right to resume military operations in Gaza should Hamas fail to honor its commitments.
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