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Hamas has indefinitely suspended the release of Israeli hostages from the Gaza strip as it accuses Israel of failing to hold up its end of the fragile ceasefire deal.
The militant group accuses Israel of delaying the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza, carrying out strikes across the enclave and hindering the entry of humanitarian aid, as Palestinians look to start the arduous task of rebuilding the devastated enclave.
US president Donald Trump has responded furiously to the announcement, calling for the ceasefire to be cancelled and to let “hell break out” if the dozens of remaining hostages aren’t freed by 12pm on Saturday.
After re-establishing control over Gaza after the ceasefire began on January 19, Hamas has said the next hostage release will be delayed “until later notice”.
“The door remains open for the exchange to proceed as planned if Israel abides by its obligations,” the group added.
Israeli defence minister Israel Katz has accused Hamas of a “complete violation” of the ceasefire and instructed the Israeli military to be on the highest alert.
Hamas did not mention previous proposals by Mr Trump to forcibly transfer Palestinians from the Gaza strip and let the US take “ownership” of the territory.
Trump to discuss Gaza with Jordan’s King Abdullah in tense meeting
Donald Trump will meet Jordanian King Abdullah on Tuesday, hours after the US president threatened to let “all hell break out” if Hamas doesn’t release all hostages by Saturday noon.
It is Trump’s first meeting with the leader of an Arab country since his proposals for the forcible transfer of Palestinians out of Gaza to allow the US to take over the strip and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East”.
King Abdullah has rejected any moves to remove Palestinians from their homeland. On Tuesday, he is expected to tell Trump such a move could boost radicalism, cause chaos in the region, jeopardize peace with Israel – threatening the country’s survival.
Alex Croft11 February 2025 10:19
A Hamas delay in Gaza’s next hostage release brings fear on all sides for ceasefire
The Hamas announcement that it will delay the next planned release of Israeli hostages from Gaza has threatened a fragile truce that’s seen as having the potential to wind down 16 months of war.
It has brought new dismay for Israelis who watched the latest Hamas handover of hostages in growing horror over the weekend as the three emaciated men came into sight. Of the hostages yet to be released from Gaza under this phase of the ceasefire, Israel has said eight are dead.
The developments also have led to new fear in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have surged to what remains of their homes in the territory’s north after being evacuated in the war’s earliest weeks.
Alex Croft11 February 2025 09:59
Oldest hostage in Gaza confirmed dead by Israel
The family of Shlomo Mansour has been informed by Israeli military that he was killed in the Hamas attacks on October 7.
“The decision to confirm his death was based on intelligence gathered in recent months and was approved by an expert committee of the Ministry of Health, in cooperation with the Ministry of Religious Services and the Israel Police,” the Israeli military announced.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered his “heartfelt condolences” to the family of Mr Mansour, who he said was one of the founders of Kibbutz Kissufim.
Mr Mansour was believed to be the oldest hostage in Gaza.
Alex Croft11 February 2025 09:43
Trump: Think of Gaza as a big real estate site that the US will own
Alex Croft11 February 2025 09:32
Abiding by ceasefire only way to bring hostages home, says Hamas official
Abiding by the ceasefire deal is the only way to bring home Israeli hostages, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said on Tuesday.
“Trump must remember that there is an agreement that must be respected by both parties, and this is the only way to bring back the prisoners. The language of threats has no value and only complicates matters,” he told Reuters.
Hamas indefinitely suspended the release of hostages on Monday, accusing Israel of failing to uphold its ceasefire obligations.
Alex Croft11 February 2025 09:25
‘Resumption of hostilities must be avoided at all cost’ – UN chief
UN chief Antonio Guterres has urged Hamas to continue with the release of hostages, one day after the militant group announced it would halt the exchange.
“We must avoid at all costs the resumption of hostilities in Gaza that would lead to an immense tragedy,” Mr Guterres said in a statement.
It comes after Hamas said on Monday it would stop releasing Israeli hostages due to alleged violations of the ceasefire agreement, including air strikes on areas in the enclave.
“Both sides must fully abide by their commitments in the ceasefire agreement and resume negotiations in Doha for the second phase”, Mr Guterres added.
Alex Croft11 February 2025 09:14
Trump says ‘let all hell break out’ if all Israeli hostages are not freed by weekend
President Donald Trump on Monday threatened Hamas after the militant group paused plans to release more of the Israeli hostages it holds this weekend, telling reporters that “all hell is going to break out” if all of the Israeli hostages held by the group aren’t freed by noon on Saturday.
““As far as I’m concerned, if all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock – I think it’s an appropriate time – I would say, cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out,” he said.
“I’d say they ought to be returned by 12 o’clock on Saturday. And if they’re not returned – all of them, not in drips and drabs, not two and one and three and four and two – by Saturday at 12 o’clock. And after that, I would say, all hell is going to break out,” Trump added.
White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg reports:
Alex Croft11 February 2025 09:05
