Desk: After a year and a half of war between Israel and Hamas, the ceasefire has provided some relief to the people of Gaza. However, life remains a struggle in the war-torn city. Amid the ongoing prisoner and hostage exchange under the truce, Hamas made a sudden announcement on Monday, stating that it will not release Israeli hostages for now. This decision has sparked outrage in Israel, with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordering the military to be prepared for a major operation in Gaza.
On Monday, Hamas declared that it would halt the release of Israeli hostages until further notice, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement. In response, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Hamas had breached the truce and instructed the military to remain on high alert to ensure the safety of Israeli communities.
Hamas’ Allegations
Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for Hamas’ military wing, accused Israel of obstructing the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, launching military attacks, and blocking humanitarian aid supplies despite the ceasefire that took effect on January 19. While the ceasefire has largely held for the past three weeks, sporadic Israeli gunfire has reportedly resulted in the deaths of Palestinian civilians. Aid agencies have noted an increase in humanitarian assistance deliveries to Gaza since the ceasefire began.
Abu Ubaida further stated that Hamas will not release any more hostages unless Israel fulfills its commitments and compensates for past violations. A scheduled exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners was set to take place on Saturday, but Hamas’ latest decision has put the process on hold.