'Israel' to proceed with ceasefire if 3 captives released Sat: Axios

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Axios + Israeli media
12 Feb 2025 22:57

On Tuesday, conflicting statements from Israeli officials and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu created uncertainty regarding the conditions for extending the ceasefire.

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Palestinians gather as Hamas fighters escort Red Cross vehicles carrying Israeli captives Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi, and Or Levy after being handed over in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 8, 2025 (AP)

"Israel" has conveyed a message to Hamas through Egyptian and Qatari mediators, stating that the ongoing prisoner release-ceasefire agreement will continue if the Palestinian group releases three captives on Saturday, Axios reported, citing a senior Israeli official.

On Tuesday, conflicting statements from Israeli officials and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu created uncertainty regarding the conditions for extending the ceasefire. Some statements indicated that Hamas must release "our hostages," while others specified "9 hostages" or even "all of them" for the truce to continue.

According to the Israeli Army Radio, Netanyahu and his security cabinet were uncertain about the precise meaning of US President Donald Trump's demand that Hamas release "all of the hostages" by Saturday at noon. As a result, a series of ambiguous messages were issued following a security cabinet meeting.

The cabinet was unable to determine whether Trump was referring to all 76 remaining captives in Gaza or just those scheduled for release in the initial phase of the agreement.

"We are in a situation where we can’t refuse to adopt [the positions of] Trump, and therefore the prime minister’s wording was convoluted," an Israeli minister told Army Radio anonymously.

The current fragile ceasefire agreement is at risk of being jeopardized in recent days, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Tuesday that the bombardment of Gaza would resume if captives were not released by Saturday.

His statement matched that of US President Donald Trump, who warned a day earlier that "all hell" would break out if Hamas did not release "all" Israeli captives by Saturday.

This comes after the spokesperson for the Martyr Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Obeida, announced that the captive exchange set for February 15 has been postponed until further notice, due to the ongoing Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement.

The violations include Palestinians being shot at, tanks trespassing the permitted distance, and preventing the entry of heavy equipment, medical supplies, and caravans.

Hamas had been set to release captives on Saturday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, but the group now demands that "Israel" fulfill its obligations and compensate for its violations before the process can continue.