 "Hamas fighters in Gaza City on their way to collect Israeli hostages due to be released under the ceasefire deal with Israel. AP")
Gaza-based militant organisation Hamas has reportedly directed its senior leadership and figures to avoid using mobile phones amid fears that the fragile truce with Israel may collapse anytime.
Times of Israel reported, citing London-based Asharq Al-Awsat outlet, that many senior political and military Hamas leaders have already ditched devices over fears that the Israeli military may track them and assassinate them.
According to the report, some figures resumed using their phones after the truce between Israel and Hamas came into effect last month, following 15 months of intense Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip.
Ceasefire deal in peril
Since the truce began on January 19, Hamas has released 16 Israeli and five Thai hostages in exchange for 566 prisoners. But earlier this week, Hamas said it would postpone the next scheduled release of hostages on Saturday, citing alleged violations by Israel.
However, the group said it was still committed to the deal.
“We don’t wish that this deal will fall apart,” Senior Hamas official Basem Naim was quoted by BBC as saying.
“We are doing the maximum to avoid any obstacles, any challenges, and therefore we are ready to hand over prisoners next Saturday if the situation is rectified through the mediators,” he added.
Strong reaction from Israel, US
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said the potential delay by Hamas in releasing all hostages would be seen as a “complete violation of the ceasefire agreement”.
On the other hand, US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire should be cancelled if “all” the hostages held in Gaza are not returned by Saturday.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu quickly supporte d Trump’s statement, saying he was in support of resuming “intense fighting” in Gaza if Hamas doesn’t release “our hostages” by midday Saturday.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end, and the IDF will return to intense fighting until Hamas is finally defeated,” Netanyahu declared.
However, there is a confusion.
It is not clear whether the PM is insisting on the release of all remaining 76 hostages on Saturday or just the three hostages whose release was originally scheduled.
IDF bolstering its Southern Command
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces said it was “extensively” bolstering its forces in the Southern Command.
The IDF added it was calling up reservists and drawing battle plans to prepare for the event of the resumption of the war.
The ‘pager blast horror’
While Hamas’ fear is mostly driven by the IDF’s ability to track the location of their devices, it’s still not gotten over the trauma of the pager blast episode that hit Hezbollah last year.
Nearly 40 people lost their lives and thousands were left injured, many seriously, after communication devices, some used by the armed group Hezbollah, dramatically exploded across Lebanon in September.
Later, it was revealed that Israeli PM Netanyahu greenlighted the attack in a planned operation.
(With inputs from agencies)