The United Nations Chief Urges Hamas To Proceed With Planned Hostage Releases
After Palestinian militants threatened to halt any hostage-prisoner swaps agreed upon under a precarious ceasefire in Gaza, the UN Chief, Antonio Guterres urged Hamas on Tuesday to move on with planned releases of Israeli hostages.
“We must avoid at all costs resumption of hostilities in Gaza that would lead to immense tragedy,” Antonio Guterres said on X, appealing “to Hamas to proceed with the planned liberation of hostages”.
“Both sides must fully abide by their commitments in the ceasefire agreement and resume serious negotiations.”
Five groups of Israeli hostages were released in return for hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli custody as part of the ceasefire that went into effect on January 19, effectively ending more than 15 months of fighting in the Gaza Strip.
However, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, announced on Monday that the next hostage release scheduled for Saturday would be "postponed until further notice."
Citing the deaths of three Gazans on Sunday, it charged Israel of not fulfilling its obligations under the deal, especially those related to aid. Later, Hamas claimed that it gave mediators five days' notice of the delay so they could pressure Israel to comply.
Israel said its military was prepared for "any possible scenario" after the declaration. After US President Donald Trump threatened to end the ceasefire if all Israeli captives were not released by Saturday noon, the pressure increased even more. His plan to seize control of Gaza and expel its more than two million residents has already heightened tensions.
HCRC News
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