Egypt, Qatar strive to save Gaza ceasefire in the face of US-Israeli pressures: Source

CAIRO – 12 February 2025: Egypt and Qatar are ramping up their diplomatic initiatives in an effort to save the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, Al Qahera News quoted a well-informed source as saying on Wednesday.

The ceasefire in Gaza, brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, is currently at stake with Israel threatening to resume “intense fighting” if Hamas does not release Israeli captives on Saturday, as scheduled under the agreement.

Hamas said on Monday it plans to delay the releases over Israeli violation of the ceasefire, including shooting dead Palestinians in the enclave and obstructing the entry of tents and shelter supplies to the enclave.

Hamas was set to release three Israeli captives next Saturday. However, US President Donald Trump said Hamas must release all captives they still hold in Gaza or “let all hell break out.”

“As far as I’m concerned, if all of the hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock – I think it’s an appropriate time – I would say, cancel it and all bets are off and let hell break out,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday threatened to end the ceasefire in Gaza if Hamas does not release Israeli captives by Saturday.

Netanyahu warned that the Israeli army will resume “intense fighting” in Gaza “until Hamas is decisively defeated” in case the captives were not released.

He added that he has ordered reinforcing Israeli forces inside and around Gaza.

In light of Hamas's announcement regarding its decision to violate the agreement and not release our hostages, last night I instructed the IDF to amass forces inside – and surrounding – the Gaza Strip. This action is being carried out at this hour and will be completed very soon.

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) February 11, 2025

FACING US-ISRAELI PRESSURES

The well-informed source emphasized that discussions are ongoing at the highest levels with relevant parties amid increasing US and Israeli pressure to resume military operations in Gaza if captives are not released by Saturday.

“The Egyptian and Qatari mediators are working to find a way out, ensuring the balanced implementation of the ceasefire agreement while maintaining calm to avoid a new escalation that could lead to further losses,” the source stressed.

The current dilemma threatens the collapse of the ceasefire that took effect between Hamas and Israel on January 19, halting over 15 months of war that devastated the enclave and killed more than 48,000 Palestinians.

Under the ceasefire, mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the US, Israel and Hamas exchanged a total of 766 Palestinian prisoners and 21 captives—16 Israelis and 5 Thai nationals through five prisoner swaps, the last of which was last Saturday.

Cairo and Doha are urging all parties to adhere to the terms of the agreement, the well-informed source said, citing the current “political and on-the-ground complexities” complicating both countries’ mission.

The source added that the continuation of the ceasefire serves everyone's interests, warning that its collapse would trigger a new wave of violence with serious regional repercussions.