GAZA: Citing non-compliance of Israel with the terms of the agreement, Hamas has said that it would delay captive release of hostages, here on Monday (10th Feb).
Hamas took to the social media platform Telegram to state: “These violations include delaying the return of displaced persons to northern Gaza, targeting them with shelling and gunfire in various areas of the Gaza Strip, and failing to allow the entry of relief materials in all forms as agreed upon. Meanwhile, the resistance has fulfilled all its obligations.”
Spokesman of Qassam Brigade said the decision to delay the release of captives will “remain in place until the occupying entity complies with past obligations and compensates retroactively. We affirm our commitment to the terms of the agreement as long as the occupation adheres to them.”
Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet met on Monday (10th Feb, 2025) to hold an assessment , after Hamas’s decision to delay the release of hostages. Meanwhile, Defence Minister said that Israeli military had been briefed to “prepare at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza”.
UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, took to the X to Tweet: “We must avoid at all costs resumption of hostilities in Gaza that would lead to immense tragedy…I appeal to Hamas to proceed with the planned liberation of hostages.”
US President Donald Trump said that the ceasefire should be cancelled if all the hostages held in Gaza are not returned by Saturday (15th Feb , 2025): “If they are not all returned, all hell is going to break out. Hamas will find out what I mean”.
Dismayed by the Hamas proclamation, Bring Them Home Now Group took to the X (Twitter) to state: “In response to Hamas’s recent announcement, we have urgently requested assistance from the mediating countries to help restore and implement the existing deal effectively…
“We stand with the Israeli government and encourage maintaining the conditions that will ensure the successful continuation of the agreement, leading to the safe return of our 76 brothers and sisters.”
In the 5th swap Hamas had handed over three hostages – Eli Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami and Or Levy – to the Red Cross on 8th Feb, 2025. according to the ceasefire deal Israel will secure liberty of its citoyens against release of 1900 Palestinian prisoners.
Israel, accusing captors of not releasing children first, had been pressurising the mediators to secure release of Shiri Bibas and her two kids (4-year-old Ariel and 2-year-old Kfir). Her husband Yarden Bibas had been released on 1st Feb swap.
Hamas on 1st Feb 2025 handed over 3 hostages (Yarden Bibas, 34, Ofer Kalderon, 53, and Keith Siegel, 65) held here, to Red Cross in exchange for 183 Palestinians incarcerated in Israeli gaols.
It is pertinent to mention here that the process of prisoners’ swap commenced on 19th Jan, 2025 and this was the 4th exchange of captives. Meanwhile, the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt (that remained closed for 8 months) was opened enabling 50 patients to cross in order to access medical treatment.
As part of Ceasefire Agreement Hamas had handed over three Israeli and five Thai hostages to Red Cross here 30th Jan, Israel reciprocated by liberating 110 Palestinians from its jails.
Hamas freed four female soldier hostages (Daniella Gilboa, Liri Albag, Naama Levy and Karina Ariev) in exchange for 180 Palestinian prisoners incarcerated in Israel on 25th Jan under the Ceasefire Deal.
The first 3 female hostages, [Doron Steinbrecher (31), dual British-Israeli Emily Damari (28), and Romi Gonen (24)], freed by Hamas on 19th Jan, were taken to Sheba Hospital as soon as Hamas handed them over to Red Cross. They are back in Israel.
It may be recalled that PM Netanyahu, while addressing the nation on 18th January, said that Israel reserved the right to return to war if ceasefire’s second stage was unsuccessful.
Saying that he was proud to be the leader of Israel overseeing the historic Gaza ceasefire deal, the PM stated that (the then) US President Joe Biden and (then) President-elect Donald Trump had fully backed the objective of the war.
Newspakistan.tv
Sana Mehmood
Newspakistan.tv
