Chicago February 13, 2025
Israel’s defense minister has warned Hamas that “all hell will break loose” if the militant group fails to release hostages by this weekend. The threat comes as mediators work to salvage a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
The dispute began when Hamas accused Israel of not meeting its commitments under the truce, including delivering aid to Gaza. In response, Hamas delayed the release of three hostages scheduled for Saturday. However, there are signs that the two sides may be close to an agreement.
According to an Egyptian official, Israel has committed to delivering more aid, including tents, shelters, and heavy equipment, to Gaza. Hamas official Mahmoud Merdawi said there were “positive signals” that the hostages would be released as planned, but the group was still waiting for a commitment from Israel to adhere to the deal.
The ceasefire, which is in its first stage, is set to last 42 days. During this time, Israel is expected to deliver large quantities of aid to Gaza, while Hamas is supposed to release 33 hostages taken during its cross-border attack in October 2023. So far, 21 hostages have been released, along with hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody.
