The Palestinian militant group Hamas on Thursday said it does not want the Gaza ceasefire agreement to collapse ahead of a Saturday deadline for it to release more Israeli hostages.
DAILY POST reports that Hamas agreed under the deal to free three more hostages on Saturday but said this week that it was suspending the handover over what it said were Israeli violations of the terms.
US President Donald Trump responded, saying all hostages must be freed by noon on Saturday or he would let hell break out.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said that his country would resume intense fighting if Hamas did not meet the deadline.
“We are not interested in the collapse of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, and we are keen on its implementation and ensuring that the occupation (Israel) adheres to it fully.
“The language of threats and intimidation used by Trump and Netanyahu does not serve the implementation of the ceasefire agreement,” Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua said.
A Hamas delegation led by the group’s Gaza chief, Khalil Al-Hayya, met Egyptian security officials on Wednesday to try to break the impasse.
A Palestinian official revealed that mediators Egypt and Qatar were trying to find solutions to prevent a slide back into fighting.
In a statement, Hamas said the mediators were exerting pressure for the ceasefire deal to be fully implemented, ensure Israel abides by a humanitarian protocol and resume exchanges of Israeli hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners and detainees held by Israel on Saturday.
DAILY POST reports that Israel has called up military reservists to brace for a possible re-eruption of war in Gaza if Hamas fails to meet a Saturday deadline to free further Israeli hostages.
War: We don’t want Gaza ceasefire to collapse – Hamas
