Military Prepares for Potential Resumption of Conflict as Hostage Deadline Approaches

As the February 15 deadline approaches for Hamas to release more Israeli hostages, Israel’s military has called up reservists, preparing for a possible resumption of hostilities if the ceasefire fails to hold. This comes after Hamas suspended the planned release of hostages, citing Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement.

The ceasefire, which has been in effect since January 19, stipulated that Hamas would free three more hostages by Saturday. However, Hamas announced it would not honour this part of the agreement, leading to tensions escalating. US President Donald Trump has warned that unless all hostages are freed by noon on Saturday, he would allow hostilities to resume. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed this sentiment, stating that Israel would resume “intense fighting” if Hamas failed to meet the deadline.

In response, Netanyahu ordered the mobilisation of Israeli military forces near Gaza, with the army quickly deploying additional forces, including reservists. This move raises concerns of further conflict in Gaza, which has already been devastated by fighting. Over 48,000 Palestinians have been killed since the outbreak of the war, while the destruction in Gaza continues to cause widespread suffering, including shortages of food, water, and shelter.

While Hamas has insisted that it remains committed to the ceasefire, it has not agreed to release the remaining hostages on the proposed date. Efforts by mediators to resolve the situation have intensified, with a Palestinian official stating that contacts are ongoing to avert a potential crisis.

The conflict in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, with a Hamas-led attack that killed at least 1,200 people in southern Israel, leading to a large number of hostages being taken into Gaza. Israel’s subsequent military offensive has laid waste to the coastal enclave, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

Regional Instability and Diplomatic Concerns
The situation also has broader implications for the Middle East. Hamas has so far released 16 hostages in the first phase of the ceasefire deal, but negotiations for the second phase, which included the release of all remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, have stalled. Reports suggest that an Israeli delegation returned home from Doha after talks failed to progress.

Protests in Israel have called for the continuation of the ceasefire, urging the government to secure the release of all hostages. Meanwhile, Trump’s controversial proposal to transform Gaza into an international resort and relocate its Palestinian population has sparked concern among Arab officials. They warn that such plans could destabilise the region further, with the potential to worsen tensions between Israel and neighbouring countries.

Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit cautioned that Trump’s vision for Gaza could lead to a new cycle of crises, undermining peace efforts. Palestinians, in particular, fear a repeat of the “Nakba” of 1948, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced following the establishment of Israel.

Trump’s plan also proposes that Palestinians in Gaza could settle in countries like Jordan and Egypt, both of which have rejected the idea. Egypt has called for an emergency Arab summit on February 27 to address the worsening situation. The Arab Peace Initiative, originally proposed by Saudi Arabia in 2002, may also be revisited as a potential framework for resolving the conflict.

The possibility of Israel normalising relations with Saudi Arabia remains a key issue, with Trump pushing for such a move. However, Saudi Arabia has made it clear that it will not establish ties with Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state.