Hamas has reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out the Gaza ceasefire agreement with Israel, pledging to continue releasing hostages as planned. This development has raised hopes that a resumption of the conflict might be avoided.
Following negotiations in Cairo, the Palestinian armed group stated that mediators from Egypt and Qatar had assured them they would “remove obstacles.” Reports from Egyptian and Qatari sources also indicated that progress had been made in closing gaps between the parties.
An Israeli government spokesperson did not comment on these reports but reiterated that if Hamas failed to release three living hostages by Saturday, the ceasefire would be terminated.
Israel’s prime minister had issued a similar ultimatum on Tuesday after Hamas announced a delay in the hostage releases, citing what it claimed were Israeli violations of the agreement.
Hamas alleged that Israel had failed to allow in the agreed quantities of essential humanitarian aid, including tents and shelters, a claim that Israel has denied.
Hamas’s threat to disrupt the deal prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to urge Israel to cancel the agreement entirely and “let hell break out” unless “all of the hostages” were returned by Saturday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by endorsing Trump’s stance, warning: “If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon [10:00 GMT], the ceasefire will end and the [Israeli military] will resume intense fighting until the final defeat of Hamas.”
However, there were conflicting signals from Israeli officials regarding whether Netanyahu was demanding the release of all 76 hostages still held in Gaza—as Trump insisted—or just the three due to be freed over the weekend.
Confusion Clouds Efforts to Save Gaza Ceasefire
On Wednesday, an Egyptian security source informed the BBC that Egypt and Qatar were “intensifying their diplomatic efforts in an attempt to salvage the ceasefire agreement.” Meanwhile, Hamas’s leader for Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, arrived in Cairo for discussions with Egypt’s intelligence chief and other officials.
Following the conclusion of Thursday morning’s talks, Hamas issued a statement emphasizing the necessity of fully implementing all aspects of the agreement, particularly the delivery of caravans, tents, heavy construction equipment, medical supplies, and fuel.
The statement described the negotiations as “positive” and confirmed that the mediators had agreed to work on “removing obstacles and closing gaps.”
“Accordingly, Hamas reaffirms its commitment to implementing the agreement as signed, including the exchange of prisoners according to the specified timeline.”
Meanwhile, Egyptian state-run Al Qahera TV reported that Egypt and Qatar had successfully “overcome obstacles” and that both Israel and Hamas remained committed to implementing the ceasefire agreement in full.
Qatar-based Al Jazeera TV also reported that the negotiations had been successful and that mobile homes and heavy machinery would enter Gaza on Thursday.
However, Israeli media later cited the Israeli prime minister’s office as dismissing the Al Jazeera report as “fake news,” asserting there was “no basis” for it.
Hamas To Keep Releasing Hostages (Photo: Getty Images)Omer Dostri, a spokesperson for the prime minister, later clarified in a post on X: “There is no entry of caravans or heavy equipment into the Gaza Strip, and there is no co-ordination for this.”
When questioned about Hamas’s statement in a subsequent press briefing, another Israeli government spokesperson maintained that Israel’s stance on the ceasefire agreement was “crystal clear.”
“There is a framework in place for the release of our hostages,” said David Mencer. “That framework makes clear that three live hostages must be released by Hamas terrorists on Saturday.”
“If those three are not released, if Hamas does not return our hostages, by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end.”
War-Weary Gazans Fear Renewed Fighting
Palestinians in Gaza, exhausted from 16 months of devastating war, expressed deep concern over the possibility of renewed violence.
“When the truce was announced, we felt immense joy. However, with the announcement of a new crisis, fear returned [and] traders began raising commodity prices,” Mouti al-Qedra told BBC Arabic’s Gaza Lifeline program.
“I pray to God constantly for lasting peace, especially after the martyrdom of 65 members of the al-Qedra family. Now, we are relieved that the crisis has been resolved, hoping no more martyrs will fall.”
The Ceasefire Deal: Current Status and Future Prospects
The first phase of the ceasefire agreement is set to last six weeks and includes the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages for approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees from Gaza.
Since the ceasefire took effect on January 19, Hamas has released 16 living Israeli hostages. Additionally, five Thai hostages have been freed outside the terms of the agreement.
The remaining 17 Israeli hostages set to be released in the first phase include two children, one woman, five men over the age of 50, and nine men under 50. They are expected to be freed over the next three weeks. Both sides have stated that eight of these hostages are deceased, though only one has been publicly identified.
Negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire—which is supposed to include the release of the remaining 43 hostages, a full Israeli withdrawal, and a permanent ceasefire—have yet to begin.
The deal has also led to the withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas of Gaza, the return of hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to their homes in the north, and the daily entry of hundreds of aid trucks into the territory.
The Toll of War
Israel launched its military campaign against Hamas following an unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.
Since then, more than 48,230 people have been killed in Gaza, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry.
The humanitarian toll has been immense. Most of Gaza’s population has been displaced multiple times, nearly 70% of the region’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed, and critical infrastructure—including healthcare, water, sanitation, and hygiene systems—has collapsed. Severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine, and shelter persist.