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Hamas: Trump warning ‘further complicates’ Gaza truce
“Trump must remember that there is an agreement that must be respected by both parties and this is the only way to return the prisoners (hostages),” Sami Abu Zuhri told AFP.
“The language of threats has no value and further complicates matters,” he added.
The cease-fire, in place since January 19, largely halted more than 15 months of fighting in Gaza and saw five groups of Israeli hostages freed in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
But tensions spiked last month after Trump proposed taking over Gaza and removing its more than two million inhabitants.
He further ramped up pressure on Monday, saying he would call for an end to the cease-fire if all Israeli hostages were not freed by noon on Saturday.
“As far as I’m concerned, if all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday 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,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
Under the deal, which came into effect on January 19, 17 more hostages should be released before the end of the first 42-day phase of the truce.
Trump’s latest warning came after Hamas said the next hostage release would be “postponed until further notice,” accusing Israel of failing to meet its commitments under the truce agreement, including on aid deliveries.
“The release of the prisoners (Israeli hostages), which was scheduled for next Saturday, February 15, 2025, will be postponed until further notice, pending the occupation’s compliance and retroactive fulfilment of the past weeks’ obligations,” Abu Ubaida, spokesman for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement.
The Israeli military said on Monday it would “significantly reinforce” areas around the Gaza Strip after Hamas announced its intention to postpone the release of Israeli hostages, part of a truce agreement for the territory.