Hamas leader in Cairo for Gaza ceasefire talks as Israel threatens to resume war

CAIRO – 12 February 2025: With the future of ceasefire in Gaza seemingly at stake, Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya, leading a delegation, has arrived in Cairo to hold talks with Egyptian officials.

Hamas said in a statement on Wednesday that the meetings, which already commenced, will follow up on the ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement through the dedicated technical committees and the mediators.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday threatened to end the ceasefire in Gaza if Hamas does not release Israeli captives by Saturday, a day after the Palestinian movement announced delaying the scheduled releases, citing Israeli breaches.

Hamas cited Israel’s delay in returning displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza and the shelling that resulted in the deaths of residents in the enclave.

Additionally, Israel obstructed the delivery of essential supplies, including tents, fuel, and equipment needed to recover bodies, while also delaying medical supplies and resources necessary to restore hospitals and the health sector, the movement added.

Hamas's announcement came after Trump's comments on the same day that Palestinians would not be allowed to return to Gaza under his plan for the US takeover of the enclave.

Netanyahu warned that the Israeli army will resume “intense fighting” in Gaza “until Hamas is decisively defeated” in case the captives were not released, saying that this decision was unanimously approved during a meeting for his cabinet ministers.

Netanyahu said he has ordered reinforcing Israeli forces inside and around Gaza.

Hamas on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire currently in place with Israel in Gaza, inviting mediators to intervene and bring the agreement back on track#Egypt #Africa #MENA https://t.co/iJxq6RDulS

— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) February 12, 2025

Hamas on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire, inviting mediators to intervene and bring the agreement back on track.

In statements to the BBC, senior Hamas official Basem Naim blamed Israel for any complications or delays in the ceasefire implementation.

He expressed the movement’s determination to overcome any obstacles and challenges, underscoring their desire to prevent the collapse of the agreement.

Naim also indicated that Hamas is prepared to release captives next Saturday if the situation is rectified through mediation.

Netanyahu’s remarks threaten the collapse of the ceasefire that took effect between Hamas and Israel on January 19, halting over 15 months of war that devastated the enclave and killed more than 47,000 Palestinians.

Under the ceasefire, mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the US, Israel and Hamas exchanged a total of 766 Palestinian prisoners and 21 captives—16 Israelis and 5 Thai nationals through five prisoner swaps, the last of which was last Saturday.