Hamas accuses Israel of ceasefire violations ahead of hostage exchange

Hamas accused Israel of multiple breaches of the ceasefire agreement on Friday, a day before the scheduled exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, as part of a fragile deal to end the war in Gaza.

Hamas claimed Israel had delayed the entry of trucks carrying humanitarian supplies, including food, and had allowed only a fraction of the tents and mobile homes needed to shelter people returning to bombed homes.

The accusations highlight the fragility of the ceasefire deal, which was brokered with the help of Egyptian and Qatari mediators and backed by the United States.

As Hamas was set to announce the identities of the three Israeli hostages to be released, the announcement was delayed, raising concerns over the impact on the exchange scheduled for Saturday.

US President Donald Trump had previously proposed moving Gaza’s population to a third country like Egypt or Jordan and placing the region under US control. The plan was immediately rejected by Arab countries, Palestinian groups, and many Gazans, who insisted on rebuilding their homes independently.

Despite these tensions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed Trump’s proposal as a “remarkable” plan, while Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered preparations for the potential departure of Gaza residents who wish to leave. However, many have expressed their intention to rebuild Gaza themselves.

The first phase of the exchange agreement has seen the release of 13 Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, with the second phase now underway.

The fragile ceasefire continues to hold, although both sides have accused each other of breaches.

Hamas also accused Israel of manipulating the distribution of aid, claiming that only 8,500 out of the 12,000 trucks expected to arrive had entered Gaza, many carrying non-essential goods.

Additionally, only 10% of the required tents and caravans had been delivered, leaving many in harsh winter conditions.

Despite Israel’s rejection of these accusations, stating that they have allowed thousands of trucks with aid into Gaza, many people are still living in makeshift shelters.

The humanitarian situation remains dire, as the Gaza Strip continues to recover from the destruction caused by months of intense conflict.