Are Israel and Hamas Preparing for Full-Scale War? Hostage Talks Halted News24 –

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is on the brink of collapse. The delay in the release of Palestinian prisoners has enhanced the possibility of endangering the ceasefire between them. It is the reason that Israel and Hamas have started preparing for war. The 35-day ceasefire allowed Hamas to reorganise its cadre, and it may launch an offensive with new strength. 

Over thousands of Hamas fighters returned to their bases through the Netzarim Corridor, which was a part of the ceasefire. According to reports, over five lakh Gazans returned to the north of Gaza. These people are trying to rebuild their homes, which were destroyed during Israeli strikes. On the other hand, Hamas fighters are trying to establish their units to continue their fight against Israel.

Hamas terrorists along with thousands of others, joined the new units of Hamas. However, Israeli forces assessed that these preparations were weaker compared to those before the full-scale war. 

Meanwhile, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar informed his 20 European Union counterparts that Israel is open to extending the ceasefire if more hostages are released, according to a statement from his office quoted by The Times of Israel.

“It will not happen without the release of hostages,” Sa’ar said in his meetings with the Hungarian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Finnish, and Slovakian foreign ministers. “We are committed to the release of our hostages and to the war’s objectives that we set,” as per Times of Israel.

Sa’ar also told them that it is time to enforce existing sanctions on Iran and impose new ones.

The hostage-release ceremonies that Hamas has been holding throughout the first phase of the ceasefire have significantly harmed the terror group’s chances to remain in power in Gaza, two international diplomats tell The Times of Israel.

Hamas has sought to use the ceremonies to demonstrate that it remains in control of the coastal enclave after over 15 months of war with Israel. Israel and others have rejected the displays as “humiliating” and demanded they stop before any more prisoners are released in exchange for hostages.