Hamas has agreed to release Israeli hostages as planned, following warnings from President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about severe consequences if the ceasefire agreement is breached.
At a Glance
- Hamas announced it would resume freeing Israeli hostages as planned after initially suspending the handovers
- The decision came after warnings from Trump and Netanyahu about potential military action
- Hamas credited Egyptian and Qatari mediators for helping to resolve the issues
- Netanyahu had threatened to resume hostilities unless hostages were released by noon on Saturday
- Trump suggested the possibility of U.S. military involvement if the situation escalated
Hamas Agrees to Release Hostages Amid Tensions
In a tense standoff that threatened to reignite conflict in the Gaza Strip, Hamas has announced its intention to proceed with the planned release of Israeli hostages. This decision comes on the heels of stern warnings from both President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had threatened to end the ceasefire if the terrorist group failed to comply with the agreement.
The situation had escalated when Hamas initially delayed the release of hostages, accusing Israel of not adhering to the ceasefire terms, particularly regarding the allowance of aid into Gaza. This prompted a swift and forceful response from Israeli leadership. Netanyahu demanded the return of hostages by noon on Saturday, warning that failure to do so would result in the end of the ceasefire and a resumption of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) combat operations.
Netanyahu Orders More Troops Near Gaza as Hamas Threatens to Halt Hostage Release
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to deploy additional troops in and around the Gaza Strip after Hamas threatened to suspend the next scheduled release of hostages,…
— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) February 11, 2025
Trump’s Intervention and Netanyahu’s Stance
President Trump’s intervention in the crisis added a new dimension to the international pressure on Hamas. Trump issued a stark warning, suggesting that if the hostages were not released, there would be severe consequences. Netanyahu welcomed Trump’s remarks, praising not only the demand for hostage release but also what he referred to as Trump’s “revolutionary vision for Gaza’s future.”
Trump’s warning included the possibility of U.S. military involvement, a statement that significantly raised the stakes in the ongoing conflict. The President even floated the idea of the U.S. taking over the Gaza Strip, demonstrating the gravity with which he viewed the situation.
Hamas’s Response and Ceasefire Status
In response to the mounting pressure, Hamas announced that it would resume the release of Israeli hostages as planned. The terrorist group credited Egyptian and Qatari mediators for helping to resolve the issues that had led to the initial delay. Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua emphasized the group’s commitment to the ceasefire agreement while criticizing the threatening language used by Trump and Netanyahu.
“We are not interested in the collapse of the cease-fire agreement in the Gaza Strip, and we are keen on its implementation and ensuring that the occupation [Israel] adheres to it fully,” Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua said.
The Gaza Strip has experienced 24 days of relative peace under a fragile ceasefire after 15 months of intense conflict. Recent exchanges have involved the release of three Israeli hostages for dozens of Palestinian detainees, with five exchanges freeing a total of 16 Israeli and five Thai hostages. The conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, with Hamas militants killing 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages in Israel, has seen significant casualties on both sides.
As tensions escalated, Netanyahu instructed the Israeli military to amass forces around Gaza, with additional troops and reservists being called up. This move underscored Israel’s readiness to resume military operations if Hamas failed to comply with the hostage release agreement. In a show of force aimed at regional actors, two U.S. Air Force B-52 planes arrived in the UK, signaling American readiness to respond to any escalation involving Russia or Iran.
