Samy Magdy & Melanie Lidman
AP / February 14, 2025
CAIRO – Hamas said Thursday it would go ahead with the release of three more Israeli hostages, paving the way toward resolving a major dispute over the ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip.
The militant group had threatened to delay the next release of captives after accusing Israel of failing to meet its obligations to allow in tents and shelters, among other alleged violations of the truce. Israel, with the support of U.S. President Donald Trump, has said it will resume fighting if the hostages are not freed, but did not immediately comment on the statement by Hamas.
The announcement from Hamas could allow the ceasefire to continue for now, even after Israel said Thursday that a rocket had been launched from Gaza. But doubts remain about the long-term durability of the truce.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was meeting Thursday with top military and security officials at the army’s Southern Command headquarters near the Gaza border.
Hamas said it held talks in Cairo with Egyptian officials and was in contact with Qatar’s prime minister about bringing in more shelters, medical supplies, fuel and heavy equipment for clearing vast amounts of rubble in Gaza — its key demand in recent days. It said in a statement that the mediators had pledged to “remove all hurdles.”
Shortly after the announcement, Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif al-Qanou confirmed to The Associated Press by phone that three hostages will be released on Saturday, as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement.
Egypt’s state-run Qahera TV, which is close to the country’s security services, reported that Egypt and Qatar had succeeded in resolving the dispute. The two Arab countries have served as key mediators with Hamas and helped broker the ceasefire, which took effect in January, more than 15 months into the war.
Egyptian media also aired footage showing trucks carrying temporary housing and bulldozers on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing with Gaza. They reported that the trucks were heading to an Israeli inspection area before crossing into Gaza.
In central Gaza, one resident voiced hope Thursday that the fragile ceasefire deal will last.
“As civilian citizens we hope the war ends and the agreement is fully implemented,” said Saed Abu Attia, who is displaced from his home in northern Gaza. “We paid a hefty price due to this war and we hope it ends as soon as possible.”
The Israeli military said a rocket was fired from inside Gaza Thursday in what appeared to be the first such incident since the agreement took effect. The projectile landed within the territory and the military said later that it had struck the rocket launcher that had fired it.
Since the ceasefire began, Israeli fire has killed at least 92 Palestinians and wounded more than 800 others, said Munir al-Bursh, director general of the Gaza Health Ministry. The Israeli military says it has fired on people who approach its forces or enter certain areas in violation of the truce.
