Hamas to Continue Release of Three Israeli Hostages

CAIRO, FRIDAY - Hamas stated that it would continue the release of three more Israeli hostages in accordance with the first phase of the ceasefire agreement. After being at risk of halting, the first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza has the potential to continue.

The sustainability of a long-term ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is becoming increasingly doubtful, following the statement by US President Donald Trump to relocate all Palestinian residents from Gaza. Talks for the second phase of the ceasefire have been delayed from the original schedule.

The main leader of Hamas in Gaza, Khalil Al-Hayya, visited Cairo, Egypt to negotiate with Egyptian security officials, Thursday (13/2/2025) local time.

According to Hamas's statement, Egyptian and Qatari mediators will continue to strive to remove obstacles and close gaps so that the first phase of the ceasefire can continue.

The Associated Press news agency, Friday (14/2/2025) reported that Hamas does not want the agreement to collapse. However, they also reject threats and intimidation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump, who stated that the ceasefire must be canceled if the hostages are not released by the end of this weekend.

"Therefore, Hamas reaffirms its commitment to implementing the agreements as signed, including the prisoner exchange within the specified timeframe," Hamas said in a statement.

Hamas said talks in Cairo were taking place with Egyptian officials and that it had also contacted Qatar's prime minister.

The gist of the talks was about bringing in more shelters, medical supplies, fuel and heavy equipment to clear rubble in Gaza — Hamas’s main demands in recent days.

Shortly after the announcement, Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif al-Qanou confirmed to the Associated Press by telephone that the three hostages would be released on Saturday (2/16/2025) local time, as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement.

On the same day, Netanyahu held a meeting with top Israeli military and security officials at the army's Southern Command headquarters near the Gaza border.

Hamas' statement paved the way for a resolution of the dispute that threatened the continuity of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.

A 42-day ceasefire was in danger of collapsing when Hamas announced Monday (10/2/2025) that it would stop releasing hostages. Hamas accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement.

Hamas said Israel did not fulfill the conditions. In turn, Israel also accused Hamas of violating the agreement.

Israel accused Hamas of firing a rocket from Gaza that landed in the enclave on Thursday. The Israeli military said it destroyed the launcher after the shot.

Hamas denies the allegation. A source in the Hamas-run police said the rockets were actually unexploded Israeli ordnance. The rockets ignited and shot into the air as they were being moved away from residential areas.

Hamas's threat not to release the hostages was met by Israel's threat to return to war. After Hamas announced it would stop releasing hostages, Netanyahu ordered the deployment of reserve forces. He threatened to resume combat operations in Gaza.

Following a meeting with Hamas in Cairo, Egypt's state-run Qahera TV, which is close to the country's security services, reported that Egypt and Qatar had managed to resolve the dispute.

Egyptian media showed footage showing trucks carrying temporary housing and bulldozers at the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing bordering Gaza. They said the trucks were heading to an Israeli inspection area before crossing into Gaza.

Egyptian security sources said heavy construction equipment is expected to enter on Thursday. If everything goes smoothly, Hamas will release the hostages on Saturday.

In central Gaza, a resident voiced hope that the ceasefire deal would last. “As civilians, we hope that the war ends and the agreement is fully implemented,” said Saed Abu Attia, who fled his home in northern Gaza.

"We paid a heavy price for this war and we hope it ends as soon as possible," he said.

Israeli government spokesman David Mencer said the three hostages must be released alive by Hamas on Saturday for the ceasefire to continue.

The head of the Hamas-run government media office in Gaza, Salama Marouf, said only 73,000 of the 200,000 tents needed have arrived in Gaza. No temporary shelters have been allowed so far.

The Israeli military agency COGAT, which oversees aid deliveries to Gaza, said 400,000 tents have been allowed in so far. Mobile homes have yet to be delivered from countries that have committed to sending supplies.

As civilians, we hope that the war ends and the agreement is fully implemented.

International aid officials confirmed aid was arriving, but more was needed. "We have seen some improvement in some respects. But of course, the response is far from sufficient to meet the needs of the many people who have faced so much destruction and loss," said Shaina Low, an official with the Norwegian Refugee Council based in the Jordanian capital, Amman.

He said housing materials would still be delivered, although Israel restricted what it said were dual-use items, that is, items that could also be used for military purposes.

Trump's announcement to relocate all Palestinians from Gaza has raised doubts that the ceasefire can last long. He said he wants to develop Gaza into a luxury waterfront commercial complex under U.S. control.

The first phase is set to end in early March 2025. So far there have been no substantive negotiations regarding the second phase.

Negotiations for a second phase of the ceasefire were supposed to have taken place in Doha, Qatar. However, the Israeli negotiating team returned to Israel on Monday (2/11/2025), just two days after arriving in Doha.

According to the initial plan, in the second stage, Hamas would release dozens of remaining hostages, and Israel would end the war and withdraw all troops from Gaza.

Palestinians and Arab states have strongly rejected Trump's plan, with human rights groups saying it could constitute a war crime under international law.

Trump's proposal drew fresh criticism from both U.S. allies and foes. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Trump's remarks on the Gaza conflict posed a threat to global peace.

"Honestly, I do not consider Trump's behavior and his current statements and threats to many countries in the world to be right. And, I do not see this as a positive development," Erdogan told reporters in Jakarta.

Houthi leader in Yemen, Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi, threatened to launch a military intervention if the plan goes ahead. "We will never be passive in the face of such aggressive plans against the Palestinian people," Al-Houthi said in a televised speech.

Under the agreement, during the first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas has released 16 Israeli hostages out of the agreed 33 hostages. They consist of children, elderly citizens, and female soldiers.

Meanwhile, Israel has released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. Hamas also released five Thai hostages outside the agreement.

The threat of ending the first phase of the ceasefire prompted thousands of protesters in Israel this week, calling on the Israeli government to stick to the deal and bring home the remaining hostages.

The war in Gaza erupted after a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The attack killed at least 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages in Gaza.

A ceasefire lasted for a week in November 2023. At that time Hamas released 105 civilian hostages, consisting of 81 Israelis, 23 Thais, and one Filipino.

Israel retaliated against Hamas attacks on Gaza and destroyed the enclave, killing more than 48,000 Palestinians.

During the ceasefire that has been in effect since January 19, 2025, the Director General of the Gaza Health Ministry, Munir al-Bursh said, Israeli fire has killed at least 92 Palestinians and injured more than 800 others.

The Israeli military said it only fired at people who approached its troops or entered certain areas in violation of the ceasefire. (AP/Reuters)