The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is now at risk after Hamas announced it would indefinitely postpone the next scheduled release of Israeli hostages. The group accused Israel of violating the terms of the agreement, specifically regarding aid distribution and the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza. This surprise decision has heightened tensions and raised fears that the truce could collapse, threatening the progress made in recent weeks.
As both sides trade blame, families of the remaining hostages are growing increasingly desperate, while international mediators scramble to salvage the agreement before it falls apart.
How Many Hostages Are Still in Gaza?
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. In response, Israel launched a military campaign that has since resulted in over 48,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Since the ceasefire began on January 19, 2025, 16 Israeli hostages and five Thai hostages have been freed in exchange for 566 Palestinian prisoners. Under the current agreement, a total of 33 Israeli hostages and 1,900 Palestinian prisoners are expected to be released by the end of the first phase. However, Israel has reported that at least eight of those hostages are already dead.
Despite these exchanges, 73 hostages remain in Hamas custody, along with three others who were taken in previous conflicts. Many are feared to be in poor health or dead, further increasing the urgency for their release.
What Was the Planned Hostage Release?
The next exchange was scheduled for Saturday, with Hamas set to release three Israeli hostages in exchange for additional Palestinian prisoners. However, on Monday, Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida announced that the release would be postponed indefinitely, citing Israel’s alleged failure to uphold its end of the ceasefire agreement.
“The handover of the Zionist prisoners who were scheduled to be released on Saturday will be postponed until further notice,” Obeida said, accusing Israel of “delays in the return of displaced persons to northern Gaza, targeting them with shelling and gunfire across various parts of the region, and not allowing the entry of relief materials in all agreed forms.”
This decision has thrown the entire agreement into uncertainty, as both sides accuse each other of repeated violations.
Why Is Hamas Stopping the Releases?
Hamas claims that Israel has failed to meet key commitments under the ceasefire deal, particularly regarding humanitarian aid and the resettlement of displaced Palestinians. One of the main points of contention is Israel’s alleged failure to allow the entry of mobile homes, tents, and other essential supplies for Gazans who lost their homes during the war.
Under the terms of the agreement, Israel was supposed to facilitate the entry of 60,000 mobile homes and 200,000 tents into Gaza. However, Hamas and Arab mediators argue that Israel has not lived up to this promise, delaying the delivery of essential resources. Israel, on the other hand, insists that it has supplied more tents than originally agreed upon and rejects Hamas’s accusations.
Beyond humanitarian concerns, political tensions have also played a role in Hamas’s decision. President Donald Trump’s recent remarks suggesting that the U.S. should take control of Gaza and relocate its Palestinian residents have sparked outrage in the region. While Hamas has not directly linked the postponement to Trump’s statements, Arab mediators say the political climate has made negotiations more difficult.
How Has Israel Responded?
Israeli officials reacted strongly to Hamas’s announcement, calling it a serious violation of the ceasefire agreement. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel would not tolerate Hamas’s actions and ordered the military to prepare for any potential escalation.
“I instructed the IDF to prepare at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza,” Katz said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office also issued a statement reaffirming Israel’s commitment to the ceasefire, but with a stern warning to Hamas. Israel has accused Hamas of violating the agreement as well, particularly regarding the way hostage releases have been handled.
One major source of tension has been the public spectacle surrounding hostage releases. Israeli officials claim that Hamas has deliberately staged the exchanges in a way that humiliates and intimidates hostages, often forcing them to walk through jeering crowds before being handed over to the Red Cross.
Additionally, previous exchanges have seen delays and last-minute disputes. For example, when Hamas failed to release a female hostage, Arbel Yehoud, as expected earlier this month, Israel retaliated by postponing the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza. The situation was only resolved after an extra day of hostage releases, including Yehoud.
The U.S. and International Reaction
The United States has been one of the key mediators in the ceasefire talks, working alongside Egypt and Qatar to keep the negotiations on track. However, President Trump’s recent comments about relocating Palestinians out of Gaza have added fuel to the fire, angering regional leaders and making an already delicate situation even more complicated.
Trump first introduced the idea in a Fox News interview, saying that the U.S. should take control of Gaza, “clear the rubble, and redevelop it,” while its more than 2 million residents were relocated elsewhere. He insisted that these displaced Palestinians would receive “much better housing” in neighboring countries.
His proposal was immediately condemned by Arab governments, who rejected the idea outright. Some analysts described it as ethnic cleansing, while others argued it would constitute a crime against humanity. Even within Israel, the idea of forcibly expelling Palestinians has long been a controversial and divisive issue.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit Israel and several Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, to try to repair the diplomatic fallout and ensure that the ceasefire holds.
When Might Hostage Releases Resume?
Despite Hamas’s decision to delay the release, there is still hope that further exchanges can take place. A Hamas spokesperson indicated that the “door remains open” to releasing the hostages if Israel meets its obligations. However, there is no clear timeline for when negotiations might resume.
In the meantime, the families of the remaining hostages are growing increasingly anxious. Many of those who have been freed so far appeared gaunt, malnourished, and in poor health, leading to fears that time is running out for those still in captivity.
The Hostage Families Forum, an advocacy group representing the relatives of hostages, has called on mediators to urgently intervene to keep the deal on track. The group issued a statement emphasizing the need for immediate action:
“Recent evidence from those released, as well as the shocking conditions of the hostages released last Saturday, leaves no room for doubt—time is of the essence, and all hostages must be urgently rescued from this horrific situation.”
With both sides locked in a cycle of accusations and retaliation, the future of the ceasefire remains highly uncertain. If a resolution is not reached soon, the risk of a return to full-scale war in Gaza grows increasingly likely.
NP Editor: This is pretty easy to analyze. Hamas never intended to keep the agreement, but just to whet our appetite and renegotiate. This happens a lot. Israel has all along been preparing to re-engage military forces, because expected this as well. Hopefully in the interim Israel with the aid of U.S. and other intelligence services have been busy identify the Hamas terrorist and finding out where the hostages are being held.
Trump has shown little in the way of patience, he is upset about how the hostages have been treated, he has campaign promises to keep and we believe he is making plans in the background. We do not expect a simple re-engagement of military forces. What is coming will be different and devastating.
