Hamas Reaffirms Commitment to Ceasefire, Plans Hostage Release

Hamas has recommitted to the ceasefire with Israel and announced it will proceed with the release of three hostages as scheduled this Saturday, easing concerns that the truce might collapse. Tensions flared earlier in the week when both sides accused each other of violating the ceasefire, leading Hamas to initially delay the release of the next batch of hostages. This sparked reactions in Israel and the U.S., intensifying fears that the fragile ceasefire could unravel.

However, Hamas issued a statement on Thursday reaffirming its commitment to the truce and confirming the planned hostage release. The group, which is supported by Iran, emphasized that it does not want the ceasefire to collapse but criticized what it called “threats and intimidation” surrounding the situation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump had previously warned that the truce should be voided if Hamas failed to stick to the hostage release schedule. But with Hamas’ commitment to the release, the deal appears to remain intact.

This de-escalation in the Middle East coincides with growing hopes for peace in Ukraine, which has also affected global oil prices. President Trump revealed that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have separately expressed a desire for peace talks. The prospect of a resolution in Ukraine has contributed to a decline in crude oil prices, with Brent crude falling to $74.55 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate at $70.79.

While optimism around the Ukraine conflict persists, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that Ukraine’s hopes of regaining pre-2014 borders may be unrealistic, and that NATO membership is off the table. The potential peace deal in Ukraine could ease tensions in the global energy market, though tight supply remains a factor keeping oil prices higher than expected.