Hamas says Trump threats ‘complicate’ situation in Gaza

The threats of the president of, of provoking a “hell” in if they are not released until Saturday (15) “further complicate things,” a leader of. “Trump must remember that there is a (truce) agreement that both parties should respect, and that this is the only way to make the prisoners return,” said Sami Abu Zuhri, one of the leaders of the Palestinian Islamist movement. “The language of threats has no value and further complicates things,” he emphasized.

Since January 19, and after more than 15 months of confrontation between Israel and Hamas, which devastated the Gaza Strip, a fragile truce is in force between the two parts, thanks to the mediation of Qatar and the help of the United States and Egypt . The truce has so far allowed the release of 21 hostages, including 16 Israelis, kidnapped on October 7, 2023 during the South Israeli Surprise attack, in exchange for more than 700 Palestinian prisoners in Israel. In total, 33 Israeli hostages should be released in the first phase of the truce, which ends on March 1. On Monday, however, Hamas announced the postponement of the next hostage release, which should take place on Saturday (15), accusing Israel of violating the truce.

Israel called the decision of Hamas “flagrant violation” of the agreement. The Islamist movement stated that the door remains “open” for the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners to take place on Saturday, “according to the planned plan,” as long as Israel fulfills their obligations. In the current scenario, Trump made the statement on Monday. “With regard to me, if all the hostages are not returned before Saturday at 12 noon in point – I think it is an appropriate time – I would say that they cancel it, no more bets and that hell is discouraged,” he said, “he said,” he said. Trump to the press at the White House.

Posted by Luisa Cardoso
*With information from AFP