Ceasefire is only way to bring Israeli hostages home, Hamas official says

11/2/2025 19:15

A Hamas official said on Tuesday Israeli hostages can be brought home from Gaza only if a fragile ceasefire is respected, dismissing the "language of threats" after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would "let hell break out" if they were not freed.



Hamas has started releasing some hostages gradually under the ceasefire in place since Jan. 19 but has postponed freeing any more until further notice, accusing Israel of violating the terms by continuing attacks on the Gaza Strip.



Trump, a close ally of Israel, said on Monday that Hamas should release all the hostages held by the militant group by midday on Saturday or he would propose cancelling the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.



Trump has enraged Palestinians and Arab leaders and upended decades of U.S. policy which endorsed a possible two-state solution in the region by trying to impose his vision of Gaza, which has been devastated by an Israeli military offensive and is short of food, water and shelter, and in need of foreign aid.