Gaza ceasefire falling apart? Hamas says Israel violated deal, hostage-prisoner exchange to get delayed

Palestinian militant group Hamas on Monday said it would indefinitely postpone the next hostage-prisoner exchange under a fragile truce agreement with Israel, accusing it of failing to comply with its terms.

“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 fulfillment of the past weeks’ obligations. We reaffirm our commitment to the terms of the agreement as long as the occupation adheres to them,” AFP quoted Abu Ubaida, spokesman for Hamas’s armed wing the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, as saying in a statement.

Obeida alleged that Israel has not fulfilled its obligations under the current ceasefire agreement over the past three weeks.

According to a Times of Israel report, Obeida claimed the Israeli army is obstructing the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza and targeting Palestinians returning to the north of the Strip.

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Reacting to the development, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz called the announcement by Hamas a “complete violation” of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

“Hamas’ announcement to stop releasing Israeli hostages is a complete violation of the ceasefire agreement and the deal to release the hostages. I have instructed the IDF (military) to prepare at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza,” AFP quoted Katz as saying in a statement.

Meanwhile, an Israeli delegation that visited Doha over the weekend for discussions on the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire has returned from the Qatari capital, amid growing doubts over the Egyptian and Qatari-brokered process to end the war in Gaza, according to a Times of Israel report, citing spokesperson for Benjamin Netanyahu.

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The news comes after US President Donald Trump expressed frustration with the ceasefire deal, stating he was losing patience after witnessing footage of Hamas releasing Israeli hostages over the weekend, comparing their appearance to that of Holocaust survivors.

“They look like Holocaust survivors. They were in horrible condition. They were emaciated,” Trump was quoted as saying.

“I don’t know how much longer we can take that … at some point we’re going to lose our patience,” he added.

“I know we have a deal … they dribble in and keep dribbling in … but they are in really bad shape,” Trump said of the Israeli hostages.

Hamas released three hostages from Gaza while Israel freed 183 prisoners and detainees two days ago, marking the fifth exchange under a fragile three-week-old ceasefire agreement.

However, the emaciated appearance of the three Israeli men shocked the nation, prompting widespread anger and concern.

Many of the Palestinian prisoners released to Ramallah shortly after the Israelis also appeared extremely thin, with seven out of 43 requiring hospitalisation, according to the Times of Israel report, citing Palestinian Prisoners Club.

With inputs from agencies