The Israeli government had not yet responded to Hamas’ statement. Concerns have arisen this week about the potential collapse of the hard-won truce between Israel and Hamas on January 29. This uncertainty stems from Hamas delaying the release of hostages amidst President Donald Trump’s controversial suggestion of displacing Palestinians from Gaza. Adding to the tension were increasingly aggressive statements from both the White House and the Israeli government.
Earlier in the week, Hamas accused Israel of violating the ceasefire terms by targeting civilians, obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and restricting the movement of Palestinians to northern Gaza. However, a significant shift occurred on Thursday when Hamas announced its commitment to releasing the hostages. This change in stance followed President Trump’s warning of escalating conflict in Gaza if the hostages were not freed as agreed, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s threat of resuming intense military operations.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, echoed the tough rhetoric by stating that “the gates of hell will open” if Hamas failed to release the remaining captives. Most of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza were captured during a terrorist attack led by Hamas on October 7, 2023, resulting in numerous casualties and abductions. As part of the ceasefire deal’s initial phase lasting 42 days, Hamas had already released 16 out of 33 hostages.
The conflict in Gaza has led to a devastating toll, with over 48,000 Palestinians killed and a majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants forcibly displaced, as reported by local officials. Against this backdrop, efforts to mediate the crisis and counter Trump’s displacement plan have intensified among Arab leaders. Plans for an emergency Arab summit on February 27 in Egypt aim to address these critical issues following an invitation extended by President Trump to President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.
In a statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, the country expressed readiness to work with Trump towards achieving a comprehensive and fair peace settlement in the region, focusing on resolving the Palestinian conflict.
