UN Secretary General Guterres Asks Hamas To Continue Hostage Release In Gaza

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. (Twitter/@antinooguterres)

JAKARTA - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has asked Hamas to continue the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip, insisting Palestinian and Israeli militant groups must comply with commitments to the ceasefire.

In a statement following Hamas' announcement regarding plans to postpone the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza this weekend, the UN Secretary-General urged it to resume.

"I urge Hamas to continue the plan to release hostages," the UN Secretary General said in a tweet on X, as quoted on February 11.

Hamas and Israel agreed a gradual ceasefire that came into force on January 19. It was followed by the gradual release of hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

"We must avoid by any means restarting hostilities in Gaza that will lead to major tragedies," he said in a statement.

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.

We must avoid at all costs resumption of hostilities in Gaza that would lead to immense tragedy.

I appeal to Hamas to proceed with the planned liberation of hostages.

Both sides must fully abide by their commitments in the ceasefire agreement & resume serious negotiations.

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) February 11, 2025

We must advocate at all costs response of hosts in Gaza that would lead to immense tract.

I expect to Hamas to proceed with the planned liquidation of hosts.

Body sides must be fully accepted by their commitments in the ceasefire agreement & resummed serious negotiations.

Earlier, Palestinian militant group Hamas on Monday announced it would delay the release of Israeli hostages planned 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," military wing spokesman Hamas Abu Ubaida said, quoted by The Times of Israel.

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.

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."

"Both parties must fully comply with their commitments to the ceasefire agreement and continue negotiations in Doha for the second phase", said Secretary General Guterres.

In Washington, United States President Donald Trump said Hamas should release all hostages detained by militant groups in Gaza no later than Saturday afternoon or he would propose the cancellation of the Israeli-Hamas ceasefire and "remind the chaos to occur."

In response, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters on Tuesday that President Trump must remember that the only way to bring home Israeli prisoners was by respecting the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.