Hostage deal at an end? Hamas delays next release 'indefinitely', claiming Israeli ceasefire violations

The terror organization Hamas declared it would suspend the planned rounds of hostage releases “indefinitely” on Monday, citing alleged Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement.

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz called Hamas’ actions “a complete violation of the ceasefire agreement,” adding that he instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to remain “at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza and to protect the communities.”

“We will not allow a return to the reality of October 7,” Katz declared.

According to a statement by its spokesman Hudhayfah Kahlot, better known as “Abu Ubayda,” Hamas had monitored Israeli “violations and failures to abide by the terms” over the past three weeks before deciding to retaliate.

“The handover of the [Israeli] prisoners who were scheduled to be released next Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, will be postponed until further notice, until [Israel] commits to and compensates for the past weeks retroactively, and we affirm our commitment to the terms of the agreement as long as [Israel] commits to them,” according to the statement.

A political source later briefed Israeli media outlets that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a security consultation to discuss possible responses.

“In light of Hamas's announcement, the Prime Minister intends to advance the security cabinet meeting to the morning hours tomorrow,” the source added.

The Hostages Directorate in the Prime Minister’s Office stated that the hostage families were informed of Hamas’ announcement. “It was emphasized to the families that the State of Israel insists on upholding the agreement as it stands and views any violation as serious.”

Hamas’ statement came after the Israeli delegation returned on Monday morning from the talks about the ceasefire’s second stage in Qatar.

According to Channel 12 News, the team impressed upon the mediators that Hamas’ conduct, particularly its staged release ceremonies and the hostages’ atrocious medical condition, could endanger the ceasefire.

Delegation members emphasized that Israel had fulfilled all stipulated agreements, including the withdrawal from the Netzarim Corridor and the opening of the Rafah border crossing.

In its statement, Hamas listed Israel’s delay of the return of the displaced residents of northern Gaza, opening fire at civilians and limiting the entry of humanitarian aid as claimed violations.

On its part, the terror group insisted it had “implemented all its obligations.”

Israel delayed allowing the return of residents to northern Gaza to pressure Hamas into releasing civilian female hostage Arbel Yehud, as per the agreement.

Several days ago, Hamas had already alleged that only 76 aid trucks had entered Gaza so far, contradicting data published by the IDF showing that over 12,000 trucks carrying humanitarian aid have entered the enclave since the ceasefire began last month.

Regarding the allegations of Israeli soldiers firing on civilians, the IDF reiterated several times in recent days that civilians were still prohibited from approaching certain areas within the Gaza Strip, including remaining IDF posts and the border fence.

Channel 12 News reported that dozens of Gazans came within several hundred meters of the border near Nahal Oz on Sunday, causing the IDF to open fire in order to disperse them. Gazan sources claimed three people were killed as a result.

Organizations representing the hostage families reacted with shock and outrage at Hamas’ statement.

The mainstream Hostages and Missing Families Forum appealed to the mediating countries for “rapid assistance” to restore the implementation of the deal, while calling on the Israeli government to “refrain from actions that jeopardize the implementation.”

In a joint statement with several other hostage families, the Tzav 9 (“Order 9” in Hebrew) group threatened to renew its blockades of aid entering Gaza if the agreement won’t continue.

“We demand that the Israeli government and the Prime Minister immediately stop all the trucks that are strengthening Hamas,” the group stated. Members of Tzav 9 in the past blocked aid trucks, sometimes violently, that were headed for Gaza to prevent them from benefiting Hamas.

“If there is no change… we will make sure to be there in the thousands, and as early as Sunday, to stop the madness of the aid trucks to Hamas. We invite all citizens of the State of Israel from both sides of the political map, together with all civil organizations, to join us in the only civil action that will directly harm the Hamas government and bring all the hostages home,” the group said.