CAIRO: Hamas has announced that it will release more Israeli hostages as planned, which could help keep the ceasefire in Gaza from breaking down.

The group said Egyptian and Qatari mediators assured them they would work to resolve any remaining issues. As part of the agreement, Hamas will release three Israeli hostages on Saturday. Israel has not yet responded to this statement.

Ceasefire Still at Risk

Although this release may help maintain the ceasefire for now, its future remains uncertain. Hamas had earlier warned it might delay freeing the next group of hostages, accusing Israel of failing to meet its commitments. Hamas says Israel has not allowed in enough aid, including tents and shelters. Israel, backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, had threatened to restart military action if hostages were not released.

Hamas officials recently met with Egyptian authorities in Cairo and also spoke with Qatar’s prime minister. They discussed increasing aid to Gaza, including more medical supplies, fuel, and equipment to clear debris. Egyptian media reported that Egypt and Qatar helped settle the dispute, allowing trucks carrying temporary housing and bulldozers to move toward the border crossing.

Next Phase of the Truce in Doubt

A bigger challenge is coming soon. The first phase of the ceasefire will end in early March, but there have been no serious discussions about what comes next. Under the current agreement, Hamas is supposed to release more hostages in return for an end to the war.

Adding to the uncertainty, Trump has suggested relocating about 2 million Palestinians from Gaza to other countries. Israel supports this idea, but Palestinians and Arab nations strongly reject it. Human rights groups warn that such forced displacement would be a violation of international law.

Pressure to Restart the War

Some of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right allies are pushing for military action to resume after the first phase of the ceasefire. They argue that Israel should eliminate Hamas completely and implement Trump’s relocation plan.

Hamas still controls Gaza despite facing one of the deadliest military campaigns in history. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas fighters attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostages. Many have since been released, some have been rescued, and others were found dead. The remaining hostages are one of Hamas’ last bargaining tools.

Trump, who played a role in securing the ceasefire, has sent mixed signals about what should happen next. While he takes credit for the deal, he has also questioned how it is playing out. He says it is up to Israel whether to continue the war, and he has promised to keep supplying U.S. military support.

Heavy Losses in Gaza

Seventy-three hostages remain in Gaza, and around half of them are believed to be dead. Most of the remaining captives are men, including Israeli soldiers.

The war has devastated Gaza. According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 48,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children. Israel claims it has killed over 17,000 Hamas fighters but has not provided proof.

Israel’s military operations have destroyed large parts of Gaza. At one point, 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents had to flee their homes. Since the ceasefire, many have returned, only to find their homes reduced to rubble.

A New War Could Be Worse

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has warned that if Hamas stops releasing hostages, "all hell will break loose." He says that if the war resumes, it will continue until Hamas is completely defeated and Trump’s relocation plan is put in place.

With fewer hostages left in Gaza, Israel would have fewer restrictions on its military actions. Under Biden’s administration, Israel faced some pressure to allow more aid into Gaza, and the U.S. had even paused some weapons shipments. But Trump has lifted those restrictions and approved a $7 billion arms deal for Israel.

Trump has also suggested that Gaza’s people should be relocated to other countries, with wealthy Arab nations paying for the process. He has proposed that after the war, Israel could transfer control of Gaza to the U.S., which would then redevelop it as the "Riviera of the Middle East."

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key ally in Netanyahu’s government, has called for restarting the war, encouraging Palestinians to leave Gaza, and rebuilding Jewish settlements there.