Hamas has announced on Thursday it will release three more Israeli hostages, easing tensions over the ceasefire deal in Gaza. The militant group had earlier threatened to delay the handover, accusing Israel of failing to meet its commitments, including allowing essential supplies into the region.
Israel, backed by newly elected US President Donald Trump, had warned it would resume fighting if the hostages were not freed. With Hamas confirming the release will go ahead.
Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz also issued a stark warning on Wednesday, declaring that “all hell will break loose” if the militant group fails to release hostages as scheduled this weekend.
Talks in Cairo
Hamas said it had engaged in discussions with Egyptian officials and was in contact with Qatar’s prime minister over bringing more shelters, medical aid, fuel, and heavy equipment for clearing rubble in Gaza. The group claimed mediators had assured them that obstacles to aid delivery would be removed.
Shortly after Hamas’ announcement, spokesman Abdul Latif al-Qanou confirmed to The Associated Press that the hostages would be freed on Saturday as part of the existing ceasefire agreement. Egypt’s state-run Qahera TV reported that mediation efforts by Egypt and Qatar had successfully resolved the dispute.
Trump’s plan to ‘own Gaza’
As negotiations continue, Trump’s proposal to relocate Gaza’s 2 million Palestinians to other countries has sparked debate. The US president has repeatedly claimed that America will “own Gaza”.
Israel has welcomed the idea, but it has been rejected by Palestinian leaders and Arab nations, who refuse to absorb refugees. Human rights groups have warned that such a move could constitute a war crime under international law.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with top military and security officials on Thursday, discussing the situation at the army’s Southern Command headquarters near the Gaza border.
His far-right allies are pushing for a return to war once the first phase of hostage exchanges concludes, aiming to implement Trump’s plan and crush Hamas, which still controls the territory after months of devastating attacks.
Turkey, North Korea and Houthis condemn Trump
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticised Trump’s approach, saying it threatens global peace.
“To tell the truth, I do not find Mr Trump’s behaviour in the past period and his current statements and challenges to many countries in the world to be right, and I do not see these as a positive development,” Erdogan told an Indonesian television anchor.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi leader Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi issued a warning, threatening military action if the plan proceeds.
“We will never remain passive in the face of such an aggressive plan against the Palestinian people,” he said in a televised speech.
North Korean state media has strongly criticised the US, accusing it of “slaughter and robbery” over Trump’s plan to take control of the Gaza Strip and remove its more than two million Palestinian residents.
“The world is now boiling like a porridge pot over the US’ bombshell declaration,” the Korean central news agency (KCNA) said in a statement on Wednesday.
Israel-Hamas war
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages. More than half have since been released through deals or rescues, but 73 remain in captivity, with around half believed to be dead.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, over 48,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children. Israel claims to have killed more than 17,000 militants but has not provided evidence.
Israel’s military campaign has left vast areas of Gaza in ruins. The war displaced 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. Many have returned since the ceasefire, only to find destruction—rubble, human remains, and devastation.
Despite the ceasefire, violence has continued. Gaza’s health ministry reported that Israeli fire has killed at least 92 Palestinians and wounded over 800 since the truce began. The Israeli military said it had targeted individuals who entered restricted areas or approached its forces in violation of the agreement.
