GAZA CITY – Mediators Qatar and Egypt were yesterday pushing to resolve a crisis in the Gaza ceasefire, a Palestinian source told AFP, after Israel and the United States told Hamas to release hostages this weekend, or face a return to war.
Under the terms of the truce, which has largely halted more than 15 months of fighting in Gaza, captives were to be released in batches in exchange for Palestinians in Israeli custody. So far, Israel and Hamas have completed five hostage-prisoner swaps.
But the deal has come under increasing strain in recent days, prompting diplomatic efforts to salvage it, and Hamas to say it was “committed to the ceasefire” after earlier saying it would postpone Saturday’s scheduled release . “Mediators from Qatar and Egypt are in contact with the American side,” said the source on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorised to speak publicly on the Gaza ceasefire. “They are working intensively to resolve the crisis, and compel Israel to implement the humanitarian protocol in the ceasefire agreement, and begin negotiations for the second phase,” he said. UN chief Antonio Guterres has urged Hamas to proceed with the planned release, and “avoid at all costs resumption of hostilities in Gaza”. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said:
“If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end, and the Israeli military will resume intense fighting until Hamas is decisively defeated”. His threat echoed that of US president Donald Trump, who said on Monday “hell” would break loose if Hamas failed to release “all” Israeli hostages by Saturday.
Trump has proposed taking over Gaza, and removing its more than two million residents. “If all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday 12 o’clock… I would say cancel it and all bets are off, and let hell break out,” Trump said. He reaffirmed his deadline while hosting Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Tuesday. King Abdullah said on social media he “reiterated Jordan’s steadfast position against the displacement of Palestinians”, adding it was “the unified Arab position”. Senior Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri said Trump’s remark “further complicates matters”.
“Trump must remember that there is an agreement that must be respected by both parties,” he told AFP. Egypt, a US ally which borders Gaza, said on Tuesday it plans to “present a comprehensive vision for the reconstruction” of the Palestinian territory which ensures residents remain on their land. Hamas has said it would postpone the next hostage release, scheduled for Saturday, accusing Israel of violating the deal and calling for it to fulfil its obligations.
Yemen’s Huthi rebels, who are aligned with Hamas and have attacked Israel throughout the war in support of the Palestinians, said they were “ready to launch a military intervention at any time in case of escalation against Gaza”. Netanyahu did not specify whether he was referring to all captives, but his finance minister Bezalel Smotrich called on the premier to “open the gates of hell” if Israel doesn’t get back “all the hostages… by Saturday”.
The Israeli military said it has reinforced its troops, while hostage families rallied outside Netanyahu’s office in support of the ceasefire. “There is a deal. Go for it!” said Zahiro, whose uncle Avraham Munder died in captivity.
– Nampa/AFP