Hamas said Monday it is delaying the next planned release of Israeli hostages and accused Israel of not following the terms of its ceasefire agreement, a move that could potentially disrupt the ceasefire that paused the 15-month war in Gaza.
Photographs of some of those taken hostage by Hamas during their recent attacks are seen on October ... [+]
Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades, said on social media the planned return of hostages that was scheduled for Saturday “will be postponed until further notice,” multiple outlets reported.
Obeida also said the postponement will last “until the occupation commits to and compensates for the entitlements of the past weeks retroactively,” CNN reported.
Hamas and Israel agreed to the terms of a multi-phased ceasefire that outlined the return of the remaining 33 hostages being held in Gaza late last month, shortly before President Donald Trump took office.
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Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement the delay of the hostage return is “a complete violation of the ceasefire agreement and the hostage release deal,” and he said he instructed the Israeli Defense Forces “to prepare at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza,” NBC News reported.
This story is developing and will be updated.