Hamas Announces Postponement Of Hostage Release, Israeli Defense Minister Orders IDF Alert

Israeli Defense Minister Katz visited IDF troops on the Gaza border. (Source: Ariel Hermoni/Ministry of Defense)

JAKARTA - Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz strongly criticized the announcement of the postponement of the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip by Hamas, ordering Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to be on standby for any eventualities.

Defense Minister Katz called the Palestinian militant group's move to delay release a "direct breach of ceasefire."

"I instruct the IDF to prepare at the highest level of vigilance for any possible scenario in Gaza and to protect the public," Defense Minister Katz said.

"We will not return to reality on October 7," he said, referring to the Palestinian militant group's attack on Israel's southern region that sparked the latest conflict in Gaza.

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.

However, Hamas said it was open to fulfilling the timely release if Israel stopped the foul. Abu Ubaida said it 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.

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.

In Washington, United States President Donald Trump said the ceasefire and gradual release of hostages in the Gaza Strip would be canceled if Hamas did not release hostages this week, following the announcement of a suspension by the Palestinian militant group.

President Trump said Gaza's ceasefire and the deal to release hostages must be scrapped if all hostages are not released no later than 12 noon this week.

"Let all the hell break," he told reporters from the White House Oval Room.

President Trump stressed that ultimately the decision rests with Israel, adding "I speak for myself. Israel can rule it out."

It is known, 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, after 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.