Hamas will not release all Gaza hostages on Saturday, spokesman says

Hamas will not release all Gaza hostages on Saturday, spokesman says

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Senior Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri spoke to Al Jazeera on Wednesday evening and stated that Hamas is “committed” to implementing the previously agreed schedule of the hostage deal and that they will not release “all” Israeli hostages on Saturday.

Abu Zuhri’s comments likely came as part of a larger statement to Al Jazeera regarding Hamas’s views towards the potential breakdown of the ceasefire agreement.

Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that if Hamas does not release the Israeli hostages by Saturday, all hell will break loose.

This referenced US President Donald Trump when he said, “If all the Gaza hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 p.m., I would say cancel the ceasefire. Let all hell break loose; Israel can override it,” on Tuesday.

“But as far as I’m concerned… I would say cancel it, and all bets are off,” he added. “All of them, not in drips and drabs, not two and one and three and four and two,” Trump added.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri speaks during a rally in Gaza, August 17, 2014 (credit: ABED RAHIM KHATIB/FLASH90)

The original hostage release schedule

According to the original terms of Phase I of the hostage release and ceasefire agreement, three hostages were scheduled to be released this coming Saturday.

Given Abu Zuhri’s statement that Hamas remains “committed” to the original hostage release schedule, it is likely that they intend to follow through with releasing three Israeli hostages.

Itamar Ben-Gvir reacted to the statement

Itamar Ben-Gvir, former national security minister, stated on his X/Twitter that “the Israeli government is on its way to another historic missed opportunity.”

“After receiving backing from President Trump to bring hell upon Gaza if Hamas does not release all the hostages, the government intends to settle for the release of only three hostages under a reckless deal that includes the release of hundreds of terrorist murderers from prison while continuing to supply fuel and aid to the Strip.” Ben-Gvir continued.

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“A reckless deal; a frightened government,” Ben-Gvir’s response concluded.



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