Hamas, on the grounds that Israel did not abide by the ceasefire, postponed the Saturday exchange indefinitely. Israeli Defense Minister Katz claimed that Hamas’ decision was a violation of the ceasefire and ordered the army to be on alert. Mediators are concerned about the collapse of the ceasefire agreement. US President Donald Trump stated that if all the hostages in Gaza are not released by Saturday noon, the ceasefire should be cancelled. Trump commented, “Then all hell should break loose.”

The spokesman for Hamas’ military wing, Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Ubeyde, announced that they postponed the upcoming prisoner exchange expected to take place over the weekend due to Israel not fulfilling its commitments in the ceasefire agreement. Abu Ubeyde stated that the prisoner exchange planned for February 15 has been indefinitely postponed until Israel complies with its commitments and compensates for its past responsibilities from previous weeks. He confirmed that if Israel adheres to the terms of the ceasefire agreement, they will also adhere to those terms.

ISRAEL VIOLATED THE CEASEFIRE

One Palestinian lost his life as a result of the Israeli army opening fire in the north of the Gaza Strip in violation of the ceasefire. The Palestinians fired upon were said to be returning to their homes to see their families after withdrawing from the Netzarim Corridor, which separates the north and south of the Gaza Strip. Witnesses also reported that the Israeli forces stationed near the security fences in the east of the city occasionally targeted the Palestinians returning to their homes to inspect the area. Witnesses shared that Israeli military vehicles fired towards the eastern areas of the Zeytun neighborhood in Gaza City and towards the east of the El-Fuhari district in the south of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army had previously withdrawn from the Netzarim Corridor, dividing the Gaza Strip north-south, according to the ceasefire agreement with Hamas.

ISRAEL: THIS IS A VIOLATION OF THE CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz made a statement after Hamas announced the postponement of the next prisoner exchange due to Israel violating the ceasefire agreement. Katz alleged that Hamas’ decision was a violation of the ceasefire and stated, “I ordered the army to be prepared at the highest level in Gaza and to defend our communities. Hamas announcing the halt to releasing prisoners is a complete violation of the ceasefire agreement.”

STATEMENT FROM TRUMP

US President Trump made comments on the recent situation in Gaza during a signing ceremony held at the White House. When asked about reports that Hamas had paused the release of prisoners in Gaza, Trump stated that this was unacceptable. He remarked that if all the prisoners in Gaza are not released by Saturday noon, the ceasefire should be cancelled, saying, “Then all hell should break loose.”

MEDIATING COUNTRIES CONCERNED ABOUT CEASEFIRE COLLAPSE Egyptian security sources expressed concern about the collapse of the ceasefire agreement by mediators.

According to Egyptian sources, Hamas informed the mediators that due to the US exile plan, the US guarantees for the ceasefire are no longer valid.

Mediators announced that the ceasefire negotiations have been postponed until a clear sign is received that the US wants to continue with the gradual plan.

Negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire were underway in the Qatari capital of Doha. CEASEFIRE AND PRISONER EXCHANGE AGREEMENT The ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement reached between Hamas and Israel took effect at 12:15 GMT on Sunday, January 19. Within the agreement, on Monday, January 27, the Netzarim Corridor was opened for Palestinians to cross from south to north of the Gaza Strip. In the first five rounds of the prisoner exchange, 766 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons were released along with 16 Israelis and 5 Thais from Gaza. The three-stage ceasefire agreement expects over 1900 Palestinian prisoners and 33 Israeli prisoners to be released in the 42-day first stage. However, despite the agreement reached, the Israeli army occasionally violates the ceasefire.