The hard-won ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that halted their devastating 2024 war is on the brink of collapse, as a heated dispute over the release of remaining hostages threatens to shatter the fragile peace and plunge Gaza back into chaos.
Hostage Standoff Imperils Truce
Under the terms of the ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt and the UN, Hamas is required to free 33 Israeli and Thai hostages in phases, in exchange for Israel releasing about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. So far, Hamas has handed over 21 captives, while Israel has freed around 730 detainees.
But the process hit a snag on Monday when Hamas abruptly announced it was suspending further releases, citing Israeli violations of the agreement. The militant group did not provide specifics, but said it would not resume freeing hostages until Israel “stops its aggression” in Gaza.
Israel Demands Compliance, Threatens War
Israel reacted furiously to the Hamas declaration, insisting the group must release the next batch of three live hostages by Saturday noon as stipulated in the timeline. If not, Israeli leaders warn, they will consider the ceasefire null and void.
“If Hamas violate this agreement and do not release our hostages, the government has made clear that it has instructed our armed forces – and we have already amassed forces inside and surrounding Gaza – if Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon the ceasefire will end and the IDF will resume intense fighting until the final defeat of Hamas.”
David Mencer, Israeli government spokesperson
The Israelis have mobilized troops around Gaza and say they are prepared to relaunch a full-scale offensive if their demand is not met. But Hamas is showing no sign of backing down, potentially setting the stage for an explosive showdown this weekend.
Trump’s Contentious Comments Muddy Waters
Complicating matters further, U.S. President Donald Trump injected himself into the standoff on Monday with provocative remarks that left all sides scrambling.
“As far as I’m concerned, if all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday 12 o’clock – I think it’s an appropriate time – I would say cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out.”
U.S. President Donald Trump
Trump appeared to suggest Israel should scrap the entire ceasefire deal and demand Hamas turn over all the remaining 76 hostages at once – far beyond what was agreed – or else resume the war immediately. His stance clashes with the phased approach in the truce, and it remains unclear if it reflects any actual change in U.S. or Israeli policy.
The Israeli government, after initially praising Trump’s hard line, has since clarified that it still expects Hamas to release three hostages this Saturday in keeping with the original timetable. But officials reiterated the consequences of non-compliance would be severe.
Regional Powers Rally to Rescue Deal
Alarmed by the precarious state of the ceasefire, regional heavyweights Egypt and Jordan are working overtime to pull it back from the brink and keep the painstaking negotiations from imploding.
- Egypt has called an emergency Arab League summit on February 27 to hash out a “comprehensive vision” for rebuilding and stabilizing Gaza, provided the truce holds. But it’s unclear if the meeting can quell the immediate hostage crisis.
- Jordan’s King Abdullah, who was in Washington this week, categorically rejected a floated U.S. proposal to resettle Gaza’s 2.2 million residents in neighboring Arab states, earning him a hero’s welcome upon returning to Amman. But he has not divulged any concrete plans to resolve the impasse.
For now, Hamas and Israel remain locked in a tense standoff, and the clock is ticking down to the fateful Saturday deadline. If the Palestinians follow through on freeing the three hostages, it could defuse the crisis and salvage the brittle ceasefire. But if the release fails to materialize, the region could be hurtling toward another ruinous war with unthinkable human costs.
With the truce hanging by a thread, frantic diplomatic efforts are underway to avert catastrophe and keep alive the flicker of hope for eventual peace. But as the eleventh hour nears, all eyes are on Hamas to see if it will blink – or if the streets of Gaza will again echo with the din of battle.
