A Hamas spokesman has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement with the group, including targeting Palestinians in Gaza with air strikes, and said that next Saturday’s hostage release would be delayed. Israel and Hamas are in the middle of a six-week ceasefire during which Hamas is releasing dozens of the hostages captured in its attack on October 7 2023 in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The sides have carried out five swaps since the ceasefire went into effect last month, freeing 21 hostages and more than 730 prisoners. The next exchange was scheduled for Saturday, releasing three Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for Hamas’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, accused Israel of systematically violating the ceasefire agreement over the past three weeks, and said Saturday’s release would be delayed.
“The resistance leadership has closely monitored the enemy’s violations and its failure to uphold the terms of the agreement,” he said. “This includes delays in allowing displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza, targeting them with air strikes and gunfire across various areas of the Strip, and failing to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid as agreed.”
It comes after Donald Trump said Palestinians would not be allowed to return to their homes if his controversial plans come to fruition. Trump said he was committed to taking over and redeveloping the Gaza Strip into the Gaza Riviera.
In a newly-released clip, Trump was asked by Fox’s Bret Baier whether the Palestinian people would have the right to return to Gaza.
“No, they wouldn’t, because they’re going to have much better housing,” he said. “In other words, I’m talking about building a permanent place for them.”