Hamas will delay the discharge of extra Israeli captives deliberate for Saturday “till additional discover”, attributable to Israeli violations of the ceasefire in Gaza, the Palestinian group has.
Abu Obeida, the spokesperson of Hamas’s armed wing – the Qassam Brigades, mentioned in a press release on Monday that the captives will “stay in place till the occupying entity complies with previous obligations and compensates retroactively”.
Israel and Hamas are in the course of a six-week ceasefire throughout which Hamas is releasing dozens of the captives taken throughout its October 7, 2023, assault in alternate for practically 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Abu Obeida mentioned Israel had violated a number of elements of the truce brokered between the 2 sides.
“Over the previous three weeks, the resistance management monitored the enemy’s violations and their non-compliance with the phrases of the settlement,” he mentioned.
“These violations embody delaying the return of displaced individuals to northern Gaza, focusing on them with shelling and gunfire in varied areas of the Gaza Strip, and failing to permit the entry of reduction supplies in all types as agreed upon. In the meantime, the resistance has fulfilled all its obligations.”
The Qassam Brigades spokesperson reaffirmed the group’s “dedication to the phrases of the settlement so long as the occupation adheres to them”.
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz swiftly responded to the Hamas transfer, saying that the choice was in “full violation of the ceasefire settlement”.
“I’ve instructed [the military] to arrange on the highest stage of alert for any potential situation in Gaza,” Katz mentioned.
The 2 sides have carried out 5 swaps because the truce went into impact final month, releasing 21 Israelis and greater than 730 Palestinians.
The subsequent alternate was scheduled for Saturday, releasing three Israeli captives in alternate for tons of of Palestinian prisoners.
A number of Palestinian civilians have been shot and killed by Israeli forces as they returned to their houses.
In the meantime, the variety of wounded Palestinian sufferers who have been evacuated out of the Strip, in addition to the humanitarian help vans which have entered Gaza, have been fewer than what had been promised within the ceasefire settlement.
The Qassam Brigades announcement additionally is available in mild of the most recent statements made by US President Donald Trump, who has raised considerations in regards to the sustainability of the ceasefire deal.
Trump has repeatedly referred to as for ethnically cleaning Gaza, saying that america would take “possession” of the territory.
The primary stage of the deal expires on March 1. The second section, would would see the discharge of all captives and a everlasting ceasefire, has not been finalised. The third a part of the settlement is meant an usher in a multiyear plan to reconstruct the territory.
Palestinian activist and politician Mustafa Barghouti mentioned Israel has violated the settlement in 3 ways: Obstructing non permanent housing and humanitarian help, capturing at folks in Gaza and backing Trump’s plan to ethnically cleanse Gaza.
“Greater than that, now Netanyahu is threatening to return to the conflict, and he’s declaring that he won’t ever cease the conflict,” Barghouti informed Al Jazeera.
“So what do they need – to get again all Israeli prisoners after which proceed the massacres in Gaza? That is precisely the message that Palestinians have been getting.”
Netanyahu reiterated final week that he’s dedicated to fulfilling the goals of the conflict, together with destroying Hamas’s army and governing capabilities.
Earlier than Abu Obeida’s assertion on Monday, Senior Hamas official Basem Naim informed Al Jazeera that Israel has not been fulfilling its obligations beneath the settlement.
“Within the final three weeks after signing the deal we’ve been in very critical talks and negotiations with the mediators — the Egyptians, the Qataris, and america — in regards to the each day violations by the Israelis of the deal,” Naim mentioned.
He famous 25 Palestinians had been killed and dozens wounded by Israeli forces after the ceasefire went into impact.
