Hamas to Release Israeli Hostages as Scheduled, Easing Threat to Gaza Cease-Fire

Or Levy, a hostage held in Gaza since the deadly Oct. 7, 2023 attack, is released by Hamas terrorists as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, on Feb. 8, 2025. Hatem Khaled/Reuters

Terrorist group Hamas said on Thursday that it would release three more Israeli hostages on Saturday as planned, resolving a dispute that had threatened to end the fragile cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas had threatened to delay the next release of hostages, accusing Israel of failing to allow tents and shelters in, among other alleged violations of the truce.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Feb. 11, that if Hamas did not release the next group of hostages by Feb. 15 the cease-fire would no longer hold.

Hamas issued a statement in which it criticized what it called the “language of threats and intimidation” from Netanyahu and Trump but said it did not want the cease-fire to fail. “Accordingly, Hamas reaffirms its commitment to implementing the agreement as signed, including the exchange of prisoners according to the specified timeline,” they said in the statement.

Israeli minister Avi Dichter, a member of Netanyahu’s security cabinet, told Israeli public radio on Thursday that he did not believe Hamas would be able to get out of the agreement.

“There’s a deal, they won’t be able to give anything less than what is in the deal,” he said. “I don’t believe that Hamas can behave otherwise.”

Hamas said Thursday that mediators from Egypt and Qatar have said they would work to “remove all hurdles,” and would implement the cease-fire deal.

Hamas said its delegation held talks in Cairo with Egyptian officials and also spoke with Qatar’s prime minister about the need for more shelters, medical supplies, fuel, and heavy equipment for clearing rubble in Gaza.

Egypt and Qatar helped broker the ceasefire, which took effect in January after 15 months of war.

Hamas began the conflict by sending gunmen across the border on Oct. 7, 2023, and murdering 1,200 Israelis.

The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry has reported that 48,000 Palestinians have been killed during the conflict.

So far, 21 Israeli hostages have been released, in exchange for more than 730 Palestinian prisoners.

Of the 70 or so remaining hostages, 34 are believed to be dead, according to Israel.

Israel has not commented on the latest announcement by Hamas. Earlier this week Netanyahu said, “If Hamas does not return our hostages by noon on Saturday, the cease-fire will end, and the [Israel Defense Forces (IDF)] will resume intense fighting until Hamas is decisively defeated.”

“In light of Hamas’s announcement of its decision to violate the agreement and not release our hostages, I instructed the IDF last night to amass forces inside and around the Gaza Strip. This operation is underway as we speak and will be completed as soon as possible.”

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Monday if Hamas did not release the hostages, it would be a “complete violation of the ceasefire agreement and the deal to release the hostages.”

“I have instructed the IDF to prepare at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza and to protect the communities,” he said.

President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Feb. 10 that it was up to Israel whether to keep the deal, and he believed the cease-fire should be canceled if Hamas did not release the remaining hostages in Gaza by Saturday.

This is a developing story, updates will follow.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.