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12-02-2025
CAIRO/ TEL AVIV: Hamas has brushed off President Donald Trump’s threat that “all hell” will break out if it does not release the remaining Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip by Saturday.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Tuesday that the dozens of hostages would only be returned if all parties remained committed to a ceasefire deal reached last month.
“Trump must remember there is an agreement that must be respected by both parties,” he said, adding that threatening language only complicates matters.
Hamas has threatened to delay the next release of three Israeli hostages, due Saturday, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement, including by not allowing a surge of tents and shelters into the devastated territory.
While Trump said the ceasefire should be cancelled if Hamas doesn’t release all the remaining hostages Saturday, he also said such a decision would be up to Israel.
During the first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas has committed to freeing a total of 33 hostages captured in its Oct 7, 2023, attack in exchange for Israel releasing nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The sides have carried out five swaps since Jan 19, freeing 21 hostages and over 730 Palestinian prisoners so far. The war could resume in early March if no agreement is reached on the more complicated second phase of the ceasefire, which calls for the return of all remaining hostages and an indefinite extension of the truce.
Hamas has brushed off President Donald Trump’s threat that “all hell” will break out if it does not release the remaining Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip by Saturday.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Tuesday that the dozens of hostages would only be returned if all parties remain committed to a ceasefire deal reached last month. “Trump must remember there is an agreement that must be respected by both parties. This is the only way to bring back prisoners,” he said.
“The language of threats has no value; it only complicates matters,” he added.
Hamas has threatened to delay the next release of three Israeli hostages planned for Saturday, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement, including by not allowing a surge of tents and shelters into the devastated territory.
Trump said Monday that the ceasefire should be canceled if Hamas doesn’t release all the remaining hostages it is holding in Gaza by midday on Saturday though he also said that such a decision would be up to Israel.
The agreement calls for the gradual release of dozens of hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Israel, an Israeli man who was thought to be alive and in Hamas captivity was killed during the 2023 attack and his body taken to Gaza, the military said Tuesday.
Shlomo Mantzur was thought to be the oldest hostage held by the militant group in Gaza and because of his age became a symbol in Israel of the brutality of Hamas’ hostage-taking tactic.
He was 85 at the time of the attack on southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023. The military said the determination of Mantzur’s death was based on intelligence gathered in recent months.
News of Mantzur’s death comes as Israelis have been outraged over the poor condition of hostages who are being freed under the ceasefire with Hamas. On Tuesday, protesters briefly blocked a main highway calling for more hostages to be freed.
That anger is putting heavy pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to extend the ceasefire, what would allow for more hostages to be freed? (Int’l Monitoring Desk)
