US President Donald Trump announced that although Hamas released three more hostages, he did not release all the kidnapped. He said that in this situation Israel would have to decide how to continue to deal with Hamas and the US will support every decision of that country. Earlier, Trump announced that if Hamas did not release all Israeli hostages until Saturday, “hell will unleash.”
“Hamas has just released three hostages from the Gaza Strip, including one American citizen. It looks like they are in good condition! (Hamas-Red.) He did it differently than he announced this week, saying that he will not free any hostages. Israel will be He had to decide what to do about the time to release all hostages at noon. – Trump wrote on Saturday evening Polish time on his Truth Social social networking site.
Hamas's announcements
The organization ruling Gaza has announced on Tuesday that it suspends another replacement of hostages, because Israel breaks other conditions for suspension of weapons. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that if Hamas did not release the kidnapped on Saturday, it would mean breaking the truce, and Israel will resume fight in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas withdrew from his threat and He released three kidnapped Israelis on Saturday morningas provided earlier in the replacement schedule. In return, Israel released 369 prisoners in Palestinian prisons.
The threat of Netanyahu was not precise, the doubt was raised by the call to the dismissal of “our hostages”, which was interpreted by Israeli officials and the media for several days in various ways.
It could apply to three hostages who, as planned, were to be released on Saturday, or all hostages who are to be released in the first phase of the truce (in addition to the released three, there are to be six more people).
Trump put an ultimatum. He talked about “unleashing hell”
After Saturday's exchange in the Gaza Strip, 70 people are still imprisoned on October 7, 2023, according to the Israeli army, at least 35 people from this group are dead.
Also Trump himself said earlier that if all hostages are not released by Saturday, the suspension of the weapon should be suspended, which results in It would be “unleashed hell”.
The meeting of the Israeli government
On Friday, the Netanyahu office did not want to clearly answer the question whether the release of three hostages by Hamas would mean maintaining a truce or its breaking.
The Times of Israel portal informed earlier that Netanyahu will soon conduct a meeting about further steps towards Hamas. The source of the portal in the office admitted that recently government messages are unclear, but it is a “deliberate strategy”.
The replacement of hostages to prisoners is only one of the elements of the truce that has been going on since January 19. The agreement is temporary and is valid until the beginning of March. The prospects of its extension are increasingly uncertain.
Source of the main photo: PAP/EPA/HAITAM ICHAD