Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene a security assessment on Saturday, exactly two weeks since thelast release of Israeli hostagesfrom Hamas captivity, ending the first phase of thecease-fire agreement in Gaza. Negotiations to free the rest of the hostages or enter the second phase of the deal are stalled and the truce in the fighting continued despite the promise by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the cease-fire would end if hostages were not released.
U.S. President Donald Trump said late on Friday that he was hopeful that an agreement would be reached. It’s a complicated situation, he said.
President Donald Trump says hopeful negotiations for hostage release would work out
Israel has allowed the cease-fire to continue while its leverage over Hamas has diminished and the terror group has been rebuilding its strength and its hold on the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu announced on March 1st, after 33 Israeli captives were freed, that he washalting humanitarian aidsupplies to Gaza. "If Hamas continues its refusal to release more hostages and accept the outlineproposed by Steve Witkoff, there would be more consequences," Netanyahu said at the time.
In the 42 days while the first phase of the deal was underway, Hamas filled its stores with aid brought into the Strip in over 25,000 trucks including 50 carrying fuel and gas. Israeli officials said Hamas has enough supplies to last for at least four months.
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מבצע "עוטף בגין" - מחאה למען החטופים בשער בגין, הקריהמבצע "עוטף בגין" - מחאה למען החטופים בשער בגין, הקריה
Isarelis demand the release of hostages in Tel Aviv
(Photo: Moti Kimchi)
According to the security officials, the ongoing truce has enabled Hamas to regroup and prepare for renewed fighting. "They are preparing as we are," the officials said. "Their hold on the civilian population is also increasing daily. We've closed the borders but did not destroy their supply storages."
Hamas is still holding 59 Israeli hostages - 24 are officially said to be alive, although that number could be smaller. Witkoff's latest proposal which was being discussed in the negotiations in Qatar was for a limited release of up to 5 hostages in exchange for 50 days of truce.