Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Monday announced that he has ordered the army to remain on maximum high alert in Gaza and defend Israeli towns in response to Hamas' decision to postpone the release of Israeli hostages.
He described Hamas's decision as a complete violation of the ceasefire agreement and the hostage release deal.
Katz said: "We will not allow a return to the pre-October 7, 2023, reality."
His statements came after the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armed wing, said that the hostages' release, which was originally set for Saturday, February 15, 2025, would be postponed until further notice. According to a spokesperson for the brigades, the decision was made in response to Israel's "failure to comply" with the ceasefire terms in Gaza, and the prisoners would only be released if Israel compensated for the previous weeks retrospectively.
In response, Otzma Yehudit party chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir called for "intense fire attacks on Gaza from the air and ground" and a "complete halt to humanitarian aid", saying, "We must return to war and destruction."
Hamas, which is listed as a terrorist organisation by multiple countries, has accused Israel of violating the first phase of the truce by delaying humanitarian entry into Gaza -- a charge Israel disputes.
Meanwhile, Israel has recaptured 16 of the 33 captives planned for release, as well as five Thai hostages who were released without prior notice. In contrast, Israel has released hundreds of Palestinian detainees, including some serving life sentences for crimes that resulted in Israeli fatalities, as well as others imprisoned during the fighting without charges. Israel accuses Hamas of breaking hostage-release agreements and coordinating aggressive acts in front of large audiences during detainee transfers to the Red Cross.
