The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, has announced a postponement of the planned release of Israeli hostages, originally scheduled for Saturday, citing Israeli violations of the ongoing ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
According to a statement by Al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Obaida on Telegram, Hamas has closely observed Israel’s actions over the past three weeks and concluded that the Israeli side has failed to comply with the agreed terms. These alleged violations include delays in allowing displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza, attacks on civilians through shelling and gunfire, and blocking humanitarian aid from entering Gaza as outlined in the agreement.
“The resistance has fully adhered to its commitments, but the enemy has not,” Obaida stated, adding that the hostage release will be postponed until Israel fully complies with the agreement and retroactively fulfills the conditions for the past weeks. However, he reaffirmed that Hamas remains committed to the deal as long as Israel honors its obligations.
Israeli Response and Military Readiness
Following Hamas’ announcement, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant directed the Israeli military to maintain the highest level of alert in preparation for potential developments in Gaza. He called Hamas’ decision a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire deal and warned of possible consequences.
Hostage Families Urge Israeli Government to Uphold the Deal
Meanwhile, the families of the Israeli captives urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government not to take actions that could jeopardize the prisoner exchange agreement. In a statement, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum emphasized that they had requested support from mediating nations, including Egypt, Qatar, and the US, to ensure the deal remains in place and is implemented effectively.
The forum also called on the Israeli government to secure the return of 76 Israeli captives and avoid any actions that could disrupt the ongoing negotiations.
Ceasefire Agreement and Prisoner Swap
The ceasefire, which has been in effect in Gaza since January 19, was part of a three-phase agreement aimed at halting the ongoing conflict. Under the first phase of the deal, which extends until early March, 33 Israeli hostages were to be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners. The sixth round of hostage swaps had been planned for this week before Hamas’ announcement.
Legal Proceedings Against Israeli Leadership
International legal proceedings against Israel have also intensified. In November 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Additionally, Israel is currently facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its military actions in Gaza, where the ongoing war has resulted in over 48,000 deaths and widespread destruction across the enclave.
