Hamas Reaffirms Commitment to Ceasefire Amid Growing Tensions

AFP| Gaza City, Palestinian Territories

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Palestinian militant group Hamas has reiterated its commitment to releasing Israeli hostages held in Gaza under a ceasefire agreement, despite recent tensions. The group made the statement yesterday, confirming its adherence to the timeline specified in the truce deal.

“Hamas confirms continuation in implementing the agreement under what was signed, including the exchange of prisoners (Israeli hostages) according to the specified timetable,” the organization stated.

Ceasefire Under Strain

The fragile truce, which came into effect on January 19, is increasingly under pressure. On Monday, Hamas announced an indefinite postponement of the next planned hostage-prisoner exchange, originally set for Saturday. The group cited repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement by Israel as the reason for the delay.

Following Hamas’s announcement, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that “all hell” would break loose if the hostages were not released as scheduled. Trump also threatened to call for the deal’s cancellation if Hamas failed to comply.

In response, Israel has stated that it will resume military operations in Gaza if the hostage release does not proceed as planned. The region has already endured 15 months of devastating conflict.

Ongoing Mediation Efforts

Mediators from Qatar and Egypt have been working to salvage the ceasefire deal. On Wednesday, Hamas confirmed that its chief negotiator was engaged in talks in Cairo, aiming to resolve the impasse.

As per the first 42-day phase of the ceasefire deal, 33 Israeli hostages were to be exchanged for approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners detained in Israeli jails. The latest exchange, which took place on Saturday, saw the release of three Israeli hostages and 183 Palestinian prisoners.

To date, 73 out of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas during its unprecedented October 7 attack remain in Gaza, including 35 whom the Israeli military has declared deceased.

Houthi Rebels Threaten New Attacks

Meanwhile, tensions escalated further as Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels issued a new threat on Thursday. The group vowed to launch attacks if the United States and Israel proceed with any plans to displace Palestinians from Gaza.

“We will take action by firing missiles and drones and launching maritime attacks if the United States and Israel implement their plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza,” Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi declared in a televised speech.

The plan, reportedly backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, aims to relocate Gaza’s inhabitants and redevelop the territory. However, it has drawn widespread condemnation across the Arab world.

With ongoing diplomatic efforts and rising tensions, the coming days will be crucial in determining whether the ceasefire holds or if the region plunges back into violence.