Hamas announced on Monday it is suspending the planned release of hostages in Gaza, blaming Israel for allegedly failing to adhere to the terms of a ceasefire that halted the 15-month conflict in the Palestinian enclave.
According to the group’s military wing, the Qassam Brigades, Israeli violations of the agreement over the last three weeks have led to this decision.
Spokesman Abu Obeida accused Israel of delaying the return of displaced residents to northern Gaza, restricting aid from entering the territory, and engaging in gunfire and shelling in various locations across Gaza.
As a result, the planned handover of hostages scheduled for Saturday “will be postponed until further notice,” Obeida said on social media.
He added that Israel must retroactively fulfill the terms of the ceasefire before any future release takes place.
The announcement caused panic among the families of hostages. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum appealed for intervention from countries mediating the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.
“Recent evidence from those released, as well as the shocking conditions of the hostages released last Saturday, leaves no room for doubt — time is of the essence, and all hostages must be urgently rescued from this horrific situation,” the group said.
During the fifth round of hostage releases over the weekend, Eli Sharabi, Or Levy, and Ohad Ben Ami were released but appeared frail and weak, raising further concerns about their health.
Mediation efforts have been led by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt, with negotiators working to finalize the next phase of the agreement.
Israeli officials condemned Hamas’ move, with Defense Minister Israel Katz labeling it “a complete violation of the ceasefire agreement.”
“I have instructed the IDF to prepare at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza and to protect the communities,” Katz said, referring to the Israel Defense Forces.
Opposition leader Avigdor Lieberman urged that all aid to Gaza be cut off if the hostages were not released on Saturday.
“No trucks will enter the Gaza Strip. No food, no water, no electricity, and no fuel,” he posted on X.
Since the ceasefire began in January, hundreds of aid trucks have entered Gaza daily. Cutting off this supply would have catastrophic consequences for Palestinian civilians.
Hamas’ decision not only heightens uncertainty around the fragile ceasefire but also jeopardizes the release of Palestinian prisoners scheduled for exchange, while increasing regional tensions.
U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in on the situation Monday night, suggesting that Israel should cancel the ceasefire if all hostages are not freed by noon Saturday.
“If they’re not returned, all of them — not in drips and drabs, not two and one and three and four and two. Saturday at 12 o’clock. And after that, I would say all hell is going to break out,” Trump told reporters after signing executive orders at the White House.
When asked for clarification, Trump responded, “You’ll find out. They’ll find out, too. Hamas will find out what I mean. These are sick people.”
Trump recently drew widespread criticism across the Middle East after proposing that the U.S. should take control of Gaza and transform it into the “riviera of the Middle East.”
In an interview set to air on Fox News, Trump suggested relocating Palestinians during reconstruction efforts and building new communities.
“We’ll build beautiful communities for the 1.9 million people. We’ll build beautiful communities, safe communities — could be five, six, could be two, but we’ll build safe communities a little bit away from where they are, where all of this danger is,” Trump stated.
Following his comments, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that Trump was “committed to rebuilding Gaza and to temporarily relocating” Palestinians during the reconstruction.
Hamas leader Osama Hamdan rejected what he described as an “Israeli-American vision” for Palestinians, condemning Trump’s statements and accusing him of having a “real estate view of homelands.”
Hamdan reiterated that the decision to suspend the release of hostages was driven by what he called Israel’s failure to comply with “90% of the humanitarian protocol.”
Local health officials report that nearly 48,000 people have been killed during the war, which erupted after the October 7 attack by Hamas, leaving 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage.
