Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Pope Leo XIV: Peacemakers do not flee, but dare to stay even if it costs them some sacrifice.
The Pope to the Lebanese: You are a diverse country and a community made up of communities united by one language, the language of hope, which has allowed you to start anew.
Pope Leo XIV to the Lebanese: You are a people who do not give up, but a people who persevere in the face of difficulties and know how to be reborn.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli occupation targets bulldozer working to remove rubble of destroyed home in Shebaa.
IRGC sources tell Al Mayadeen that reports of Iranian missile strikes on northern Iraq are false, calling them rumors spread by enemy-linked media.
Trump: Venezuela airspace should be considered 'closed in its entirety'
AFP: Ukraine behind attack on Russian 'shadow fleet' tankers in Black Sea
Sheikh Qassem: We, our allies, the honorable in our nation, our people, and our army will never accept being subservient to the US or 'Israel'
Sheikh Qassem: They must despair, for whatever they do, this people cannot be defeated or broken, and we shall neither fall nor yield
Sheikh Qassem: Threats neither advance nor delay matters, yet the possibility of war or its absence exists because 'Israel' and the US are weighing their options

Gaza captives Hamas' leverage to push 'Israel' back to talks: Source

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Al Mayadeen
  • 14 Feb 2025 00:01
4 Min Read

A senior Palestinian official tells Al Mayadeen that Hamas views the failure to resume negotiations regarding phase two of the agreement as clear evidence of a shift in "Israel’s" position.

Listen
  • x
  • Gaza captives Hamas' leverage to push 'Israel' back to talks: Source
    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)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is evading engagement in phase two of the Gaza ceasefire-prisoner exchange deal, relying on US support and President Donald Trump's plan to displace Gaza's population, a senior Palestinian official told Al Mayadeen on Thursday.

The official pointed out that the Israeli delegation that arrived in the Qatari capital Doha did not bring any new proposals regarding the negotiations but merely handed over a list of captives still held by the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas.

The Palestinian group views the failure to resume negotiations regarding phase two of the agreement—originally scheduled to begin a week ago—as clear evidence of a shift in "Israel’s" position, which now hinges on disregarding this stage entirely, the official told Al Mayadeen.

However, the senior Palestinian official explained that the captives still held by Hamas are a powerful card, which it maintains in Gaza, thus forcing the Israeli occupation to resume the second phase of negotiations.

Elsewhere, the official emphasized that the United States is exerting no pressure on "Israel" to resume the negotiations.

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.

Read more: Hamas set to release three Israeli captives amid ceasefire efforts

Hamas: Egypt, Qatar efforts to mend ceasefire deal successful

Earlier on Thursday, Palestinian sources said Egyptian-Qatari efforts succeeded in overcoming the obstacles that were "hindering the completion of the implementation of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement," adding that mediators' communications guaranteed the commitment of the parties involved in the ceasefire.

"The indicators are positive regarding the Israeli occupation's commitment to the ceasefire," Hamas spokesperson Abdullatif al-Qanou' told Al Mayadeen, adding that the Palestinian group is "ready to resume the prisoner exchange next Saturday if the occupation adheres to the agreement."

He emphasized that a Hamas envoy met with Egyptian officials to resolve the obstacles the occupation is placing to collapse the ceasefire agreement, underscoring that the group isn't responsible for the collapse of the agreement and is fully committed to the ceasefire's terms and forcing the Israeli side to adhere by it.

Hamas released a statement saying the discussions were held in a positive mindset and were focused on the importance of applying all the terms of the ceasefire, especially the terms connected to providing shelter, caravans, heavy machinery, and medical supplies.

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

  • United States
  • Gaza Strip
  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • US
  • Hamas
  • Gaza
  • Donald Trump

Most Read

13 elite Israeli troops were wounded in a confrontations in Beit Jinn, Syria.

13 elite Israeli troops wounded in confrontations in southern Syria

  • West Asia
  • 28 Nov 2025
Hezbollah announces the martyrdom of Haitham al-Tabatabai

Hezbollah announces the martyrdom of commander Haitham Tabatabai

  • West Asia
  • 23 Nov 2025
Hezbollah publishes biography of martyred leader Haitham al-Tabatabai

Hezbollah publishes biography of martyred leader Haitham Tabatabai

  • Politics
  • 23 Nov 2025
Hezbollah releases the names of the four martyred with Tabatabai

Hezbollah releases the names of the 4 martyred alongside Tabatabai

  • West Asia
  • 24 Nov 2025

Coverage

All
In Five

Read Next

All
U.S. F-35 fighter jets fly over José Aponte de la Torre Airport in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, Friday, September 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo)
Politics

Venezuela condemns US 'colonial-style' threat to national airspace

Palestinians walk through the destruction left by the Israeli air and ground offensive in Gaza City, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Gaza death toll exceeds 70,000 as Israeli crimes continue

Ireland removes name of former Israeli president from Dublin park
Europe

Ireland removes name of Ex. Israeli regime president from Dublin park

Gazan brothers Jomaa and Fadi Abu Assi, 8 and 9, in an undated photo (Social media)
Politics

Gaza: Two brothers, aged 8 and 9, killed by 'Israel' on their way home

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS