Hamas has announced a delay in the next hostage release following accusations of ceasefire violations by Israel. The ongoing six-week ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas involves the release of 33 hostages captured in an October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The scheduled exchange, set for Saturday, was supposed to see the release of three more Israeli hostages in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida cited various violations by Israel, including delays in allowing displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza, airstrikes, and gunfire across the Strip, and failure to facilitate humanitarian aid entry as agreed.
In response, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz condemned the delay as a complete violation of the ceasefire agreement, prompting the Israeli military to heighten its alert status.
Hamas Criticizes Trump's Remarks on Gaza Ownership
Hamas officials criticized President Donald Trump's recent statements regarding U.S. 'ownership' of Gaza as 'absurd' and reflective of a lack of understanding of the Palestinian cause. Trump's comments suggested that Palestinians in Gaza would not have the right to return under his proposed plan for U.S. control of the territory.
Israeli Response to Hostage Release Delay
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is consulting security officials following Hamas' announcement of the delay in the hostage release. Netanyahu has advanced a Security Cabinet meeting to address the situation. Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated that Hamas' decision to postpone the release constitutes a significant breach of the ceasefire agreement.
PA Ends Payments to Families of Palestinian Prisoners
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has terminated the controversial practice of providing stipends to families of Palestinian prisoners, including those involved in attacks on Israel. The move aims to improve relations with the U.S. administration, which viewed the payments as incentivizing violence against Israel.
Israeli Police Raid Palestinian-Owned Bookstore
Israeli police raided a prominent Palestinian-owned bookstore in east Jerusalem, detaining the owners and confiscating books deemed to incite violence. The Educational Bookshop, a cultural hub in east Jerusalem, was targeted for its collection of books on the conflict and the Middle East.
Turkish President Rejects U.S. Proposal on Palestinian Relocation
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated his rejection of a U.S. proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza, emphasizing that Israel should take responsibility for the damage in the region. Erdogan dismissed the idea of displacing Palestinians from their ancestral lands and called for reconstruction efforts to commence.
