Hamas says to delay next Israeli hostage release ‘until further notice'
Palestinian militant group Hamas announced on Monday it would indefinitely postpone the next hostage-prisoner exchange under a fragile truce agreement with Israel, accusing it of failing to comply with its terms.
'The release of the prisoners (Israeli hostages), which was scheduled for next Saturday, February 15, 2025, will be postponed until further notice, pending the occupation's compliance and retroactive fulfillment of the past weeks' obligations. We reaffirm our commitment to the terms of the agreement as long as the occupation adheres to them,' Abu Ubeida, spokesman for Hamas's armed wing the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said in a statement.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Saudi Gazette
2 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Thousands head to Egypt in bid to break Israel's Gaza blockade
CAIRO — Thousands of activists from around the world are expected to descend on Egypt on Thursday for a 'Global March to Gaza,' a movement aiming to break the Israeli blockade that has pushed the territory to the brink of famine. Some 4,000 volunteers from over 80 countries will join the protest, according to organizers. They will land in Cairo, take buses to the city of Arish in northern Sinai, and then march around 30 miles through the desert peninsula to the Egyptian side of the Gaza border at Rafah. Organizers told CNN the activists will sleep in tents along the route and are expected to arrive at the border on Friday but do not plan to enter the war-ravaged enclave. The march puts Egypt in an awkward position as it tries to balance its ties with Israel and the United States against its public condemnation of the war's brutal toll on Gaza's civilians. A key mediator with direct channels to both Hamas and Israel, Cairo has been wary of the conflict spilling over into its territory. It has kept its side of the Rafah crossing closed to Palestinians, even as anger at Israel's actions continues to rise at home. In a statement Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said he expects the Egyptian government 'to prevent the arrival of jihadist demonstrators to the border of Egypt-Israel and not to allow them to carry out provocations and to try to enter into Gaza.' This will 'endanger the security of IDF (Israel Defense Forces) soldiers and we will not allow it,' Katz added. The international activists will be joined by another convoy of 2,000 protesters arriving from Tunisia. That group arrived in Libya, which neighbors Egypt, on Wednesday, organizers said. Among those joining the march are Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, a former South African lawmaker and grandson of Nelson Mandela, and Hala Rharrit, a former US State Department diplomat who resigned from her US government position during the Biden administration over Washington's handling of the Gaza war. 'This is just another tool, another way (for) the people to raise their voices, to let governments know that we are not happy,' Uzma Usmani, the sponsorship and logistics lead for the UK delegation of the march, told CNN. 'We need to take things into our own hands, to raise awareness, to put pressure on all the different governments so that they start taking action,' she said. As Israel's war in Gaza enters its 21st month, high-profile international campaigners are becoming increasingly active in their attempt to break the siege. On Monday, Israel intercepted a Gaza-bound aid ship, the 'Madleen,' detaining its passengers and taking them to Israel. Among the activists on board was Swedish climate and human rights activist Greta Thunberg and French member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan. Thunberg departed Israel on Tuesday and Hassan remains in Israeli detention. Israel imposed a full humanitarian blockade of Gaza on March 2, cutting off food, medical supplies and other aid to the more than 2 million Palestinians in the territory for 11 weeks. Faced with growing international pressure, it began allowing a trickle of aid in late May. But humanitarian organizations say it is only a fraction of the aid that entered the enclave before the war. Organizers of the Global March to Gaza have said that they have reached out to Egyptian authorities, informing them of their plans and asking for cooperation and protection but have received no response. The Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement that activists must obtain permits ahead of their arrival in Cairo. 'Egypt stresses the importance of adhering to these established regulatory measures to ensure the safety of visiting delegations due to the sensitive security conditions in this border area since the onset of the crisis in Gaza,' the ministry said, adding that 'no requests or invitations will be considered or responded to if submitted outside the framework specified by the regulatory provisions.' Organizers said they followed 'all the required protocols detailed in this statement.' They told CNN on Wednesday that some activists have experienced harassment and been detained upon arriving in the Egyptian capital, saying they fear deportation. On Thursday, organizers said 170 people are currently facing delays and deportations at Cairo airport, but that thousands of participants are already in Egypt and are determined to continue their march. CNN has reached out to the Egyptian foreign media press center and the foreign ministry for comment on those allegations. Rharrit, the former State Department official, told CNN: 'Children are starving to death, and at this point, the only thing I feel I can do is action.' 'Now is no longer the time for talk only. We need action, and we saw that with the ('Madleen') flotilla,' she told CNN's Becky Anderson this week. 'This is humanity saying no more, let the food in.' Egyptian authorities 'have no reason not to support this march,' Rharrit said, adding that delegations across the world had informed Egyptian embassies of their plan well ahead of time. 'There have been meetings with Egyptian ambassadors. Egyptian authorities have not said no,' she said, adding that the march is 'in line with everything Egypt has been trying to do diplomatically.' — CNN
Arab News
4 hours ago
- Arab News
France's Macron praises Palestinian president's ‘genuine willingness' for peace
LONDON: France's President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday praised Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' 'concrete and unprecedented commitments' after receiving a letter from the latter ahead of the UN-backed Saudi-French conference on a two-state solution in Palestine. In his letter on Monday, which was addressed to Macron and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Abbas outlined the main steps to be taken to end the war on Gaza. He called for the demilitarization of Hamas, the release of hostages, a ceasefire in Gaza and deployment of international forces to protect 'the Palestinian people,' while reaffirming his commitment to reforms and elections. Abbas also demanded an end to 'the occupation and conflict once and for all' and halting settler activities. In a post on X, Macron described the letter as 'a decisive moment, praising the Palestinian leader for charting 'a course toward a horizon of peace.' I received a letter of hope, courage, and clarity. The President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, charts a course toward a horizon of peace. A condemnation of terrorism, the release of hostages, the demilitarization of Hamas, an end to the war in Gaza,… — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 12, 2025 'Concrete and unprecedented commitments that demonstrate a genuine willingness to move forward,' said Macron. France and Saudi Arabia will co-chair the International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Question and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution in New York next week. The conference at the UN's headquarters aims to achieve concrete steps toward the two-state solution. In his letter, Abbas stressed the Palestinian Authority's commitment to presidential and general elections within a year across the Occupied Territories — including East Jerusalem — under international supervision. 'The Palestinian people are entitled to live in freedom and dignity in their homeland. Palestine and Israel are entitled to exist as states, in peace and security, in conformity with international law,' Abbas wrote in his letter. Reaffirming his commitment to the two-state solution, he said: 'We are ready to conclude within a clear and binding timeline, and with international support, supervision and guarantees, a peace agreement that ends the Israeli occupation and resolves all outstanding and final status issues.'
Leaders
4 hours ago
- Leaders
Israeli PM Netanyahu Survives Snap Election Bid Amid Coalition Tensions
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government narrowly escaped collapse on Thursday, as opposition lawmakers failed to pass a bill dissolving parliament, with 61 members voting against the motion and 53 supporting it. The opposition aimed to exploit tensions over military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox communities, after protests from within Netanyahu's coalition had raised doubts about his grip on power. However, most ultra-Orthodox lawmakers ultimately withheld support, preserving the government. Six-Month Wait Before Next Attempt However, opposition leaders now face a six-month delay before retrying to force elections. Yair Lapid, the centrist opposition leader, claimed the coalition was fracturing. 'When governments begin to fall, they fall,' he declared defiantly. Before the vote, Likud's Yuli Edelstein announced a breakthrough on ultra-Orthodox conscription. 'Only a real, effective bill expanding military recruitment will emerge,' he stated, signaling compromise. Yet specifics remain undisclosed, fueling speculation. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi insisted the government was 'stronger than ever.' Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich warned that early elections during wartime would endanger Israel's security. 'History will not forgive those dragging us into elections mid-war,' he cautioned. Exemptions vs. Conscription: A Longstanding Divide Mandatory military service in Israel excludes ultra-Orthodox men who study Jewish scripture full-time. This policy, rooted in Israel's founding era, faces renewed scrutiny amid Gaza war demands for manpower. Netanyahu balances pressure from Likud to draft more ultra-Orthodox men against coalition partners' demands for permanent exemptions. Ahead of the vote, coalition officials negotiated with ultra-Orthodox leaders to delay proceedings. Netanyahu's allies flooded parliament with procedural bills, buying time to secure loyalty. Analysts suggest the standoff highlights the coalition's fragility. Despite threats to back the opposition, ultra-Orthodox parties ultimately chose exemption guarantees over destabilizing the government. Lapid accused Netanyahu of enabling 'tens of thousands' of exemptions for young ultra-Orthodox men. Netanyahu's narrow escape masks deeper divisions, as his coalition relies on far-right and ultra-Orthodox factions whose priorities clash. With Gaza war pressures mounting, sustaining unity will test his political survival skills. The government endures, for now, yet unresolved tensions over conscription, coalition loyalty, and wartime leadership threaten Netanyahu's tenure. Israel's political landscape remains volatile, poised for further upheaval. Short link : Post Views: 16
