UN Demands Hamas Release More Hostages as Ceasefire Tensions Escalate

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Hamas to proceed with the scheduled release of Israeli hostages, after the Palestinian group threatened to postpone the next exchange set for Saturday. Guterres stressed that the violence in Gaza should not be restarted, leading to additional suffering. He urged both sides to adhere to the ceasefire agreement and restart serious peace negotiations.

Violence between Gaza and Israel has all but ceased since the ceasefire took hold on January 19, and five batches of Israeli hostages were released in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. However, on Monday, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said the release of the next batch of hostages would be delayed. It accused Israel of failing to keep its side of the agreement, such as the opening of aid in and an inquiry into the killing of three Gazans.

For its part, the Israeli military responded by saying it is prepared for all contingencies. It escalated when there were warnings made by former US President Donald Trump that he would demand a ceasefire end unless all Israeli hostages are freed by Saturday noon.