The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, is appealing to the leadership of Hamas to proceed with the planned release of Israeli hostages, amid rising tensions in the Gaza Strip.
The plea comes after Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, announced on Monday that the next hostage release, due to take place on Saturday, would be “postponed until further notice.”
“We must avoid at all costs resumption of hostilities in Gaza that would lead to immense tragedy,” Guterres said, urging “Hamas to proceed with the planned liberation of hostages.“
He also called on both sides to “fully abide by their commitments in the ceasefire agreement and resume serious negotiations.“
The ceasefire agreement, which went into effect on January 19, has largely halted fighting in the Gaza Strip, with five groups of Israeli hostages freed in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians in Israeli custody. However, Hamas accused Israel of failing to meet its commitments under the agreement, including on aid, and cited the deaths of three Gazans on Sunday.
This has raised real threats to the fragile ceasefire, with Israel saying its military is readying for “any possible scenario.”
Trump’s Threat Adds Sense of Urgency
UN boss Guterres’s appeal takes on an urgent meaning with US President Donald Trump in the shadows threatening “all hell” in the Middle East if Hamas fails to release the hostages by noon, Saturday 15.
“As far as I’m concerned, if all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock – I think it’s an appropriate time – I would say, cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Boom! Trump: I saw the hostages come out, they look like Holocaust survivors, I know there's an agreement that Hamas releases a little every week, but I don't know how long I'm going to put up with this, my patience is running out.
— MAGA JEW🇺🇸🇮🇱 (@realmagajew) February 9, 2025
Hell to pay maybe a solution pic.twitter.com/BhAQctacdN
When pressed on what “all hell” might entail in Gaza, Trump replied, “You’ll find out, and they’ll find out – Hamas will find out what I mean.”
Trump’s plan to take control of Gaza and rebuild it has also not been well received, particularly in the Arab world. Some experts have questioned the feasibility and legality of such a plan.
The plan, which involves the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, has been met with widespread criticisms elsewhere, with many accusing Trump of ignoring international law and disregarding the rights of the Palestinian people.
JolibaLive News! joins all men of goodwill and peace to ask Hamas to please keep to the plan to release all remaining hostages immediately, in order to de-escalate this needless war that has already taken over 40,000 lives and brought sorrow to millions of people in the region.
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