Hamas signals it will release three hostages as Israel vows maximum pressure

Senior Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri spoke to Al Jazeera on Wednesday evening and stated that Hamas is "committed" to implementing the previously agreed schedule of the hostage deal and that they will not release "all" Israeli hostages on Saturday.

Abu Zuhri's comments likely came as part of a larger statement to Al Jazeera regarding Hamas's views towards the potential breakdown of the ceasefire agreement.

Earlier on Wednesday, Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that if Hamas does not release the Israeli hostages by Saturday, all hell will break loose.

This referenced US President Donald Trump when he said, "If all the Gaza hostages aren't returned by Saturday at 12 p.m., I would say cancel the ceasefire. Let all hell break loose; Israel can override it," on Tuesday.

"But as far as I'm concerned... I would say cancel it, and all bets are off," he added. "All of them, not in drips and drabs, not two and one and three and four and two," Trump added.

An American intelligence assessment determined that Israel may be considering strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities this year, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday night.

The IDF, as of Wednesday, has mobilized not only mandatory-service soldiers near Gaza but also reservists and special forces in preparation for a scenario where it would need to return to a full-fledged war or mini penetrations into Gaza.

At the same time, two days into the saber-rattling crisis with Hamas over whether the group would turn over three or more hostages to Israel on Saturday, the IDF was overwhelmingly holding its fire.

Sources have told The Jerusalem Post there were no plans to attack anytime before playing out what Hamas will do on Saturday.

IDF personnel are scanning the area of Sufa in southern Israel to rule out a security incident in the area, the military announced on Wednesday evening.

Sufa is located within three kilometers of the Gaza Strip.

Home Front Command have not issued any special instructions, the military added.

The family of slain IDF soldier Sharon Edri, who was kidnapped and murdered in 1996, is ready to fight the possible release of a convicted Hamas terrorist serving several life terms for Edri’s murder and other crimes. Edri’s family says they saw reports in Palestinian media outlets that Jamal Al-Hur is currently being considered for release in the current ceasefire hostage deal, where hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are being exchanged for hostages in Gaza.

"I’m happy the families get to hold their loved ones again, and I can’t help myself from tearing up when they embrace each other,” said Jonathan Karten, Sharon Edri's nephew. “I think of my family and the moment they could’ve had as well.”

Edri’s family never had that reunion; instead, they searched seven months for him after he was abducted, ultimately leading to the discovery of his body and for officials to uncover the egregious acts of violence the Tzurif terror cell in the West Bank was sponsoring.

IDF Staff Sergeant Edri, then 20 years old, went missing on September 9, 1996, after hitchhiking home from an army hospital where he was getting treatment. Three terrorists from the village of Tzurif disguised as Haredi men kidnapped and shot him in the head. Seven months later, Edri’s body was found buried in the village of Tzurif, less than 4 kilometers away from where some of his family members lived.

The family of Gaza hostage Eitan Mor has confirmed that it had recently received a sign of life for their loved one,  the Gvura forum announced Wednesday evening.

"We are praying for the return of all hostages, including our son Eitan," a statement from the family read.

Einav Zangauker, mother of Matan, a hostage still held hostage by Hamas terrorists, has faced attacks on social media over recent days, with the Hostages and Missing Families Forum calling on the Israeli public on Wednesday to refrain from abusing families online.

Zangauker was mocked as someone who allegedly "sold her son for dental treatments. A disgusting woman," one of the comments read.

Another read that "they say you're giving them [the Hamas terrorists] all the strength [they need] to keep holding me," insinuating that Matan is still a hostage due to his mother's actions.

A different social media user insulted Matan, stating that he "remains in captivity because he is Hamas' most valuable asset."

A further social media abuser claimed that Einav is not advocating for her sons release, but rather for money from Qatar and a Tel Aviv apartment.

Senior Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri spoke to Al Jazeera on Wednesday evening and stated that Hamas is "committed" to implementing the previously agreed schedule of the hostage deal and that they will not release "all" Israeli hostages on Saturday.

Abu Zuhri's comments likely came as part of a larger statement to Al Jazeera regarding Hamas's views towards the potential breakdown of the ceasefire agreement.

Both Israeli and US officials, including President Donald Trump and Defense Minister Israel Katz, threatened that "all hell will break loose" if all Israelis are not released by Saturday at 12:00 local time.

Qatar is set to supply the Gaza Strip with an additional 15 million liters of fuel, according to the state-run Qatar News Agency (QNA) on Wednesday.

QNA claimed that this fuel is to be used to operate hospitals and "shelters for displaced persons."

On January 20, Qatar's Foreign Ministry announced that 12.5 million liters of fuel would be sent into Gaza during the first 10 days of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement. The latest announcement of 15 million liters is in addition to these fuel shipments, which have already arrived in the Gaza Strip.

Later on Wednesday, QNA announced that 16 trucks were loaded with "relief supplies" for "displaced families in Gaza."

The three hostages released on Saturday were in critical condition due to severe starvation and were "weeks away from cardiac arrest," a form of a heart attack, a security source told Maariv on Wednesday.

Or Levy, Eli Sharabi, and Ohad Ben Ami were released in visibly poor condition, which led to comparisons with the state of Holocaust survivors. The security source who spoke to Maariv stated that "the condition of the soldiers and male hostages is the worst" out of those who are still alive.

The security source stated that "the male hostages are suffering from extreme starvation, and it is doubtful whether they can survive another month or two."

Levi, Sharabi, and Ben Ami had lost 20% of their body weight, according to the source.