Hamas to Continue Hostage Releases, Easing Cease-fire Tensions
Hamas announced on Thursday its intention to release another group of Israeli hostages as scheduled, contributing to the resolution of a significant dispute that jeopardized the Gaza Strip ceasefire.
The militant organization stated that Egyptian and Qatari intermediaries have confirmed their commitment to resolving all obstacles and that Hamas would uphold the truce agreement.
The statement suggested that three additional Israeli hostages would be freed on Saturday. Israel has yet to respond to Hamas’s announcement.
For now, Hamas’s action should maintain the Gaza ceasefire, but its long-term viability remains uncertain.
Hamas had previously threatened to delay the next hostage release, citing Israel’s alleged failure to fulfill its obligations, including the delivery of tents and shelters, among other alleged truce violations. Israel, with President Donald Trump’s backing, had threatened to resume its offensive if hostages were not released.
Hamas reported that its delegation engaged in discussions with Egyptian officials in Cairo and communicated with Qatar’s prime minister regarding increased access to shelters, medical supplies, fuel, and heavy equipment for debris removal in Gaza.
Egypt’s state-run Qahera TV, known for its proximity to the nation’s security apparatus, reported that Egypt and Qatar successfully resolved the dispute. These two Arab nations have served as key mediators with Hamas, facilitating the ceasefire that came into effect in January, after 15 months of conflict.
Egyptian media also broadcast footage depicting trucks carrying temporary housing and bulldozers at the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing with Gaza. Reports indicated that these vehicles were en route to an Israeli inspection area before entering Gaza.
Trump’s proposal adds uncertainty
The truce faces a more substantial challenge in the coming weeks. The initial phase is scheduled to conclude at the start of March, and substantive negotiations for the second phase, involving the release of dozens of remaining hostages in exchange for an end to the war, have yet to occur.
A Trump-proposed relocation of approximately 2 million Palestinians from Gaza to other countries has further jeopardized the truce’s future. While Israel welcomed the plan, Palestinians and Arab nations strongly rejected it, refusing any refugee influx. Human rights groups have warned that this proposal could constitute a war crime under international law.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right allies are already advocating for a resumption of the war following the first phase, aiming to implement Trump’s plan and eliminate Hamas, which remains in control of the territory after surviving one of the deadliest and most destructive military campaigns in recent history.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and the abduction of around 250 individuals. More than half have been released through deals with Hamas or other agreements; eight have been rescued, and dozens of bodies have been recovered.
The remaining hostages represent Hamas’s primary bargaining leverage, and their willingness to release more may diminish if they anticipate a renewed war.
Trump has provided conflicting signals regarding his desired outcome for Gaza.
He claimed credit for brokering the ceasefire, achieved days before his inauguration after over a year of negotiations facilitated by the Biden administration. However, he has also expressed reservations about the agreement’s progress, stating that Israel alone decides whether to resume the war, while pledging ongoing U.S. military support.
Seventy-three hostages remain unreleased, with approximately half believed to be deceased. Almost all remaining hostages are men, including Israeli soldiers.
The war has claimed over 48,000 Palestinian lives, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry, which does not specify the number of combatants. Israel claims to have killed over 17,000 militants, without providing substantiation.
Israel’s offensive has devastated large portions of Gaza. At its peak, the conflict displaced 90% of the territory’s 2.3 million inhabitants. Hundreds of thousands have returned to their homes since the ceasefire, though many find only rubble, buried human remains, and unexploded ordnance.
A renewed conflict would likely be far more devastating
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, mirroring Trump’s sentiments, stated on Wednesday that a cessation of hostage releases would lead to catastrophic consequences. He asserted that a “new Gaza war” would not conclude until Hamas’s defeat, enabling Trump’s envisioned mass displacement.
With significantly fewer hostages remaining in Gaza, Israel would possess greater military freedom of action.
It would also face fewer constraints from the United States, its primary military benefactor. While providing critical military and diplomatic support, the Biden administration occasionally urged Israel to increase aid and at one point suspended some weapons shipments. It also opposed the permanent displacement of the Palestinian population.
Trump has lifted restrictions on arms transfers, and his administration is pushing forward with a $7 billion arms sale approved under President Joe Biden.
Trump proposed resettling Gaza’s population elsewhere in the region, with wealthy Arab countries funding the relocation. He suggested that after the conflict concludes, Israel would transfer control of Gaza to the United States, which would then redevelop it as the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key figure in Netanyahu’s fragile coalition, called for a war resumption, the “voluntary migration” of numerous Palestinians from Gaza, and the reestablishment of Jewish settlements there.
—Lidman reported from Jerusalem.