The Israeli military announced an elevated state of alert and deployed reinforcements to the Gaza front just hours after Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, postponed the sixth round of a prisoner exchange deal, citing Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement. The truce, now in its 24th day, remains fragile.
Hamas reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire on Monday, stating that it had fulfilled all obligations under the agreement while accusing Israel of multiple breaches. The group insisted that future progress depended on Israel’s full adherence to the terms.
On the Israeli side, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that Israel remains committed to the ceasefire “as written” and views any violations with seriousness. Meanwhile, Israeli Security Minister Yisrael Katz described Hamas’ announcement as a “blatant breach” of the agreement and instructed the military to maintain the highest level of readiness for any escalation in Gaza.
The Gaza Ministry of Health reported on Tuesday that 92 people have been killed and 822 injured since the ceasefire took effect on January 19, 2025. The ministry also confirmed that remnants of Israeli military operations have caused additional casualties, including two deaths.
In total, 118 people have died since the ceasefire began, including 24 who succumbed to injuries sustained before the truce. Additionally, health teams have recovered 641 bodies, of which 197 remain unidentified.
Late Monday, US President Donald Trump warned that the ceasefire agreement in Gaza could be canceled if Hamas does not release all Israeli hostages by Saturday. He also threatened severe repercussions, vowing to “open the gates of hell” if his demands were not met.
Furthermore, Trump issued a stark ultimatum to Egypt and Jordan, stating that U.S. aid to both countries could be cut off if they refuse to accept Palestinian refugees from Gaza.
Amid growing tensions, Egyptian diplomatic sources indicated that President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s planned visit to Washington on February 18 is likely to be postponed indefinitely. The decision follows Egypt’s firm opposition to Trump’s proposal to relocate Gaza residents to Egypt and Jordan.
Egyptian officials, who spoke to the press, described relations with the U.S. as being at their most strained in three decades. Cairo has reportedly received “very negative” responses from senior Trump administration officials regarding its concerns and warnings about the potential displacement of Palestinians.
