Hamas fails to provide hostage status, Israel blocks Gazans from returning north amid cease-fire dispute. Trump urges Jordan, Egypt to take Palestinians.
The fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas faces new challenges as Hamas has failed to provide Israel with information on the status of hostages still to be freed, leading Israel to block hundreds of thousands of displaced Gazans from returning to their homes in the north.
The dispute has escalated tensions, with both sides accusing each other of violating the agreement, while U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Jordan and Egypt to take in Palestinian refugees from Gaza.
Hamas’ Failure to Provide Hostage Information
Under the terms of the cease-fire agreement, Hamas was required to release 33 hostages, including women, children, and the elderly, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. However, Hamas has failed to provide Israel with a list detailing which hostages are alive or dead, a key condition of the deal.
This has delayed the release of Arbel Yehud, a 29-year-old Israeli civilian who was supposed to be freed before the four female soldiers released on Saturday.
Israel has accused Hamas of breaching the agreement by not prioritizing the release of civilian hostages.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesman, stated that Hamas “didn’t fulfill the agreement in terms of its obligation to return civilians first” and insisted that Israel would not allow Gazans to return north until Yehud is released.
Israel Blocks Gazans From Returning North
The cease-fire agreement included provisions for Israel to withdraw troops from the Netzarim Corridor, a key route in central Gaza, to allow displaced Palestinians to return to their homes in the north.
However, Israel has halted this process, citing Hamas’ failure to release Yehud as a violation of the deal. Tens of thousands of Palestinians are now stranded along main roads, waiting to return to their homes, many of which have been reduced to rubble.
Witnesses reported that Israeli troops fired warning shots near crowds attempting to cross into the north, causing panic and a stampede. Medics confirmed that one person was killed and several others injured in the chaos.
Trump’s Call for Jordan and Egypt to Take Palestinians
Amid the ongoing crisis, U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Jordan and Egypt to take in Palestinian refugees from Gaza, describing the territory as a “demolition site.”
In a phone call with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Trump suggested that the move could be temporary or long-term, emphasizing the need to “clear out the whole thing” and rebuild Gaza elsewhere.
Hamas has strongly opposed Trump’s proposal, with Bassem Naim, a member of the group’s political bureau, stating that Palestinians “will not accept any offers or solutions, even if they appear to have good intentions under the guise of reconstruction.”
The proposal has also sparked outrage among displaced Gazans, who view the territory as their ancestral home.
Broader Implications of the Dispute
The current standoff highlights the fragility of the cease-fire, which took over 15 months to negotiate.
Both sides have accused each other of violating the agreement, raising concerns about its long-term viability.
Israel has threatened to resume military operations if Hamas fails to comply with the terms, while Hamas has warned that delays in allowing Gazans to return north could jeopardize future hostage releases.
The situation also underscores the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 650,000 displaced people are desperate to return to their homes, despite widespread destruction.
The United Nations estimates that 60% of Gaza’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, and rebuilding could take decades.
The failure of Hamas to provide information on the status of hostages and Israel’s decision to block Gazans from returning north have deepened the crisis in Gaza.
As tensions escalate, the international community faces the challenge of ensuring the cease-fire holds while addressing the urgent humanitarian needs of displaced Palestinians.
The situation remains fluid, with both sides holding firm to their demands, leaving the future of the agreement uncertain.