A Hamas spokesperson has said they will delay the next hostage release after accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement. Israel and Hamas are in the midst of a six-week ceasefire during which Hamas has committed to releasing 33 hostages captured in its October 7, 2023, attack in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The sides have carried out five swaps since the ceasefire went into effect last month, freeing 21 hostages and over 730 Palestinian prisoners.
In a statement, Hamas accused Israel of failing to comply with the terms of a ceasefire agreement struck last month. The release of hostages will be delayed “until further notice”, they added. Three hostages were set to be released on Saturday. Hamas claimed that the “violations” of the agreement included “delaying the return of displaced persons to northern Gaza, targeting them with shelling and gunfire in various areas of the Strip, and failing to allow the entry of humanitarian aid in all its agreed-upon forms”.
