Following the release of three Israeli hostages from Gaza, Hamas issued a warning.
A senior Hamas official voiced concerns on Saturday that the tenuous Gaza ceasefire is on the verge of collapse, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP). The militant group accused Israel of violating the truce agreement that ended the recent conflict in the Palestinian territory nearly three weeks ago.
The three-phase ceasefire, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., involves the release of 33 hostages by Hamas—including children, female soldiers, and the wounded—in exchange for the release of 1,904 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
On Saturday, Israel released 183 Palestinian detainees, while Hamas released three Israeli captives held in Gaza. Israel described the physical condition of the released hostages as “shocking”.
Basem Naim, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, stated that Hamas does not desire a resumption of hostilities, but warned that Israeli actions could jeopardize the ceasefire. He emphasized that renewed conflict is not their intention, but Israel’s delays and lack of commitment in implementing the first phase of the agreement put its viability at severe risk, potentially leading to its failure.
Naim also urged Arab nations against recognizing Israel, calling on all Arab countries, both those currently normalizing relations and those considering it, to reconsider.
The U.S. has pursued normalization of ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel for years. President Trump, in his inaugural address, expressed a desire for formal relations between the two countries, referencing the Abraham Accords. This 2020 agreement normalized relations between Israel and Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Morocco, aiming to foster friendly relations, curb radicalization, and promote peace through intercultural dialogue.
In a September 2024 address to the UN General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that a normalization deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel appeared imminent before the October 2023 Gaza war prompted Riyadh to suspend those efforts.
Earlier this week, during a joint press conference with the Israeli prime minister, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the possibility of the U.S. assuming control of Gaza, proposing the relocation of Palestinians outside Gaza, funded by neighboring countries. When asked if the Saudis would accept a Palestinian state in exchange for recognizing Israel, Trump responded negatively.
Riyadh has since reiterated its position that it will not establish relations with Israel without Palestinian statehood, stating that the Kingdom’s commitment to a Palestinian state remains steadfast.