 "A Palestinian Hamas fighter precedes International Red Cross (ICRC) vehicles as they arrive in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip to receive three Israeli hostages as part of the seventh hostage-prisoner swap on February 22, 2025. AFP")
As tensions rise between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian armed group has said that it will only continue ceasefire talks with Israeli side if prisoners are released as part of the earlier truce deal, BBC reported.
A senior Hamas official emphasised that Israeli actions had exposed the entire agreement to “grave danger.” The armed group called on mediators, especially the US, to pressure Israel to uphold the ceasefire.
Israel delays release of Palestinian prisoners
This comes after Israel delayed the release of 600 Palestinian prisoners on Sunday. The prisoners were to be released as an exchange for six hostages and the remains of four captives, under the Gaza ceasefire. Israel accused Hamas of repeated violations, including “humiliating” handover ceremonies.
BBC reported that the fragile ceasefire is nearing a breaking point over Hamas’ “humiliating” displays during the hostage handover ceremonies.
President Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East is set to visit Israel to negotiate an extension of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal.
UN Chief says ceasefire was ‘precarious’
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the ceasefire was “precarious” and stressed that a resumption of hostilities must be avoided at all costs.
Anger, grief in Israel after release of dead bodies four hostages
There is already anger and grief in Israel after Hamas returned the bodies of four hostages earlier in the week, including Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir.
All of them were kidnapped during the 7 October 2023 attacks on Israel.
October 7 attack
Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel on 7 October. Its armed fighters entered the southern part of Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of over 250 individuals.