Gaza in ruins during Israel’s relentless bombings since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas invasion of Israel
By Greg Kerry
Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz, says he has instructed the IDF to prepare at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza and to protect the border communities.
This follows Hamas’ decision to postpone hostage exchange under the ceasefire agreement between the two warring parties indefinitely.
The minister condemned Hamas’s decision, calling it a “blatant violation of the ceasefire.”
“I instructed the IDF to prepare at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza and to protect the [border] communities.
“We will not return to the reality of October 7,” he said.
Hamas on Monday said that it would indefinitely delay the next scheduled exchange of hostages and prisoners under the current ceasefire agreement with Israel.
The Palestinian militant group accused Israel of failing to uphold its commitments, Abu Ubaida, spokesman for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said.
“The release of the prisoners (Israeli hostages), which was scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 15, will be postponed until further notice, pending the occupation’s compliance and retroactive fulfilment of the past weeks’ obligations.”
“We reaffirm our commitment to the terms of the agreement as long as the occupation adheres to them,” he said.
It would be recalled that the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas came into effect on Jan. 19.
Under its first phase, 33 Israeli hostages were set to be freed in exchange for approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli detention.
As of Saturday, both parties had completed their fifth round of exchanges, which saw the release of three Israeli hostages alongside 183 Palestinian prisoners.
