Hamas 'reaffirms its commitment' to release Israeli hostages as planned

Hamas 'reaffirms its commitment' to release Israeli hostages as planned

Hamas said on Thursday it will continue implementing the Gaza ceasefire deal, including a hostage exchange within the agreed timeframe.

In a statement, the Palestinian militant group said: "Hamas reaffirms its commitment to implementing the agreement as signed, including the exchange of prisoners according to the specified timeline."

The 42-day ceasefire has appeared close to failure this week amid accusations on both sides of violations to the agreement sealed last month with the help of Egyptian and Qatari mediators and U.S. support.

Hamas agreed under the deal to free three more hostages on Saturday but said this week that it was suspending the handover over what it said were Israeli violations of the terms.

Reports on Thursday morning suggested that an agreement had been reached to continue the ceasefire, although mediators are yet to confirm this. 

Israel has called up military reservists to prepare for a possible re-eruption of the war in the Gaza Strip if the Palestinian militant group Hamas fails to meet a Saturday deadline to free further Israeli hostages.

U.S. President Donald Trump responded by saying all hostages must be freed by noon on Saturday or he would "let hell break out". Netanyahu said his country would resume "intense fighting" if Hamas did not meet the deadline.

A Hamas delegation led by the group's Gaza chief, Khalil Al-Hayya, met Egyptian security officials on Wednesday to try to break the impasse. A Palestinian official close to the talks told Reuters that mediators Egypt and Qatar were trying to find solutions to prevent a slide back into fighting.

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