Hamas Will Release Timely Hostages If Israel Stops Violations

JAKARTA - Palestinian militant group Hamas said they were open to meeting the release on time, if Israel stopped the foul, after previously announcing it would delay the release of hostages scheduled for Saturday this week.

Military wing spokesman Hamas Abu Ubaida said his party was committed to a ceasefire agreement as long as Israel complied.

"We reaffirm our commitment to the terms of the agreement during the occupation to comply," he explained as quoted by The Times of Israel on February 11.

Hamas said they deliberately made the announcement five days before the planned release of hostages "to give mediators enough opportunity to pressure Israel into carrying out its obligations, and to keep opening doors to carry out timely exchanges if the occupation complies with its obligations."

"Delaying the release of prisoners is a warning message for the occupation, and to pressure them to strictly comply with the terms of the agreement," said Hamas.

In a statement on Monday, Hamas said they had "closely monitored violations and failures of the enemy to comply with the terms of the agreement over the past three weeks."

"This includes delaying the repatriation of people who fled to northern Gaza, targeting them with shootings and gunfire in various areas of the Gaza Strip, and failing to allow the entry of humanitarian aid in all its forms as agreed," he said, asserting Hamas had fulfilled all its obligations.

As previously reported, Palestinian militant group Hamas on Monday announced it would delay the release of Israeli hostages planned for this weekend until further notice, as Israel violated the ceasefire.

"The release of prisoners, scheduled for Saturday, February 15, 2025, will be postponed until further notice, pending re retroactive compliance with occupation and fulfillment of obligations in previous weeks," said military wing spokesman Hamas Abu Ubaida.

The latest conflict in Gaza broke out on October 7, 2023, when a Palestinian militant group led by Hamas attacked Israel's southern region, killing 1,200 people and another 250 being held hostage, according to Israeli calculations.

Meanwhile, Gaza's medical source on Monday announced the death toll of Palestine since the latest conflict broke out had reached 48,208. Meanwhile, the number of injured victims has reached 111,655 people, quoted from WAFA.

After a 15-month war, a ceasefire and gradual release of hostages between Hamas and Israel agreed to a ceasefire announced on January 15 in Doha, following mediation by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States for months.

The three-stage deal came into effect on January 19 after being delayed for several hours.

So far, 16 of the 33 hostages to be released in the first phase of the 42-day deal have returned home, while five Thai hostages have been returned in an unscheduled release.

Instead, Israel has released hundreds of prisoners and inmates, including prisoners serving life sentences for deadly attacks and Palestinians detained during the war and detained without charges.