Truce ‘to hold if Hamas releases three hostages Saturday’ says Israel

Jerusalem reportedly sent the message to Hamas through mediators Egypt and Qatar as the Defence Minister threatens to open ‘the gates of hell’ if the captives weren’t freed by the noon deadline.

Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz (R) during a briefing in the Netzarim Corridor. Picture: AFP.

Israel has reportedly told Hamas the ceasefire between the two sides will hold if the terror group frees three hostages on Saturday.

Jerusalem sent the message to Hamas through mediators Egypt and Qatar, a senior Israeli official told the news website Axios.

On Wednesday (AEDT), a series of conflicting statements by officials and by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas must release “our hostages,” “nine hostages,” and “all of them” for the ceasefire to continue.

Earlier on Thursday, Hamas said they wouldn’t release “all” Israeli hostages on Saturday but were positive the ceasefire would hold as Israel threatened to launch a new war on that would open “the gates of hell” if the captives weren’t freed by the noon Saturday deadline set by Benjamin Netanyhu and Donald Trump.

Sami Abu Zuhri, a spokesman for the militant group, told Al Jazeera Hamas remained “committed” to a ceasefire, but wouldn’t bow down to “threats” from Jerusalem and Washington.

On Thursday (AEDT) Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said: “The new Gaza war will be different in intensity from the one before the ceasefire, and it will not end without the defeat of Hamas and the release of all the hostages.

“It will also allow the realisation of US President Trump’s vision for Gaza,” he added.

Mr Katz also ordered the army to prepare for “voluntary” departures from Gaza.

Mediators Qatar and Egypt were pushing to salvage the ceasefire agreement that came into effect last month, while Hamas said its top negotiator was in Cairo.

The truce has largely halted more than 15 months of fighting and seen Israeli captives released in small groups in exchange for Palestinians in Israeli custody.

But the deal, currently in its 42-day first phase, has come under increasing strain.

Earlier this week, Hamas said it would postpone the next release of hostages citing Israeli violations, and hours later, Mr Trump warned that “hell” would break loose if the Palestinian militant failed to release “all” hostages by then.

The Israeli military said it has already begun reinforcing its troops around Gaza.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said on Wednesday Israel was “evading the implementation of several provisions of the ceasefire agreement”, warning that hostages would not be released without Israeli compliance with the deal.

“Our position is clear, and we will not accept the language of American and Israeli threats,” he said, after Netanyahu threatened to “resume intense fighting” if hostages were not released by Saturday.

Last week’s hostage release sparked anger in Israel and beyond after Hamas paraded three emaciated hostages before a crowd and forced them to speak.

On the Palestinian side, Hamas accused Israel of failing to meet its commitments under the agreement, including on aid, and cited the deaths of three Gazans over the weekend.

The group said a delegation headed by chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya was in Cairo for meetings and to monitor “the implementation of the ceasefire agreement”.

A diplomat and a Palestinian source familiar with the talks said mediators were engaged with the parties to resolve the dispute.

UN chief Antonio Guterres has urged Hamas to proceed with the planned release and “avoid at all costs resumption of hostilities in Gaza”.

AFP