A Hamas delegation has arrived in Cairo to discusses the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement with Egyptian and Qatari mediators. This fragile truce, reached last month between Hamas and Israel, has been strained in recent days. Hamas has made it clear that it will not back down in the face of threats from Israel and the United States, which have warned of renewed fighting and the mass displacement of Palestinians. Egyptian and Qatari mediators are working tirelessly to salvage the agreement, as tensions continue to escalate.
Hamas has issued a stark warning that it will delay the next scheduled release of Israeli captives, set for Saturday, citing violations of the truce by Israel. The group accuses Israel of firing on people in Gaza and failing to allow the agreed-upon number of tents, shelters, and other vital aid to enter the territory. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem emphasized that Israel must abide by the terms of the ceasefire agreement, including the humanitarian protocol, before any further prisoner releases can take place. Since the ceasefire went into effect on January 19, Israeli fire has reportedly killed at least 92 Palestinians and wounded over 800 others, according to Munir al-Bursh, director general of the Health Ministry. The latest violence includes the killing of a 44-year-old man and the wounding of another in an Israeli strike in the southern city of Rafah. The Israeli military maintains that it only targets individuals who approach its forces or enter restricted areas in violation of the truce.
The threat of resumed fighting looms large, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, backed by President Donald Trump, warning that Israel will resume military action if the captives are not released by Saturday. Trump has issued a dire threat, stating that “all hell” will break out if Hamas does not release the remaining Israeli captives held in Gaza by the deadline. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz echoed this sentiment, writing on social media that if Hamas fails to release the captives, “the gates of hell will open on them, just as the US president promised.” Katz also hinted at a potential new Gaza war, which he claimed would be more intense than previous conflicts and would not end without the defeat of Hamas and the release of all hostages.
Despite these ominous warnings, some sources within the Israeli military have expressed doubt about the feasibility of a large-scale military operation to rescue the captives. Reporting from Amman, Jordan, Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut noted that the Israeli army has been discussing plans for a renewed offensive, but sources speaking to Israeli Army Radio described such a mission as “nearly impossible” given Hamas’s continued strength in Gaza. The International Committee on the Red Cross (ICRC) has also weighed in, warning that any reversal of the ceasefire agreement risks plunging the region back into the misery and despair that defined the last 16 months. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with at least 48,222 Palestinians confirmed killed in Israel’s war on Gaza and over 1.1 million people displaced. The enclave’s infrastructure is in ruins, and the vast majority of its residents are struggling to survive.
In addition to the threat of renewed fighting, there are growing concerns about the potential displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. Israeli Defence Minister Katz referenced President Trump’s vision for Gaza, which includes the forced relocation of its residents. Trump has reportedly pressured Jordan and Egypt to accept forcibly displaced Palestinians, but both countries have refused. In a phone call on Wednesday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II reaffirmed their opposition to any plan that involves the transfer of Palestinian people from their land. They stressed the importance of starting Gaza’s reconstruction immediately and expressed their commitment to working with Trump to achieve “permanent peace” in the region through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. This came a day after King Abdullah met with Trump at the White House.
The Palestinian Authority and Arab nations have united in their opposition to Trump’s displacement plan. Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi reiterated his country’s steadfast position on the matter, stating that “the Palestinians cannot be transferred to Egypt, Jordan, or any Arab state.” Hamas, meanwhile, has called for mass demonstrations worldwide to protest what it describes as plans for the forced deportation of Palestinians. As tensions continue to rise, the situation in Gaza remains on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe, with the international community urging all parties to uphold the ceasefire and work towards a peaceful resolution. The coming days will be critical in determining whether the fragile truce can hold or if the region will be plunged back into violence and instability.
