In a significant development, Hamas has announced a delay in the release of hostages, initially scheduled for Saturday, citing ongoing violations of the ceasefire agreement by Israel. This announcement comes amidst heightened tensions and a series of exchanges that have thus far released 21 hostages and approximately 730 Palestinian prisoners since the ceasefire began last month.
Accusations of ceasefire breaches
According to Abu Obeida, spokesperson for Hamas’ military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, Israel’s actions over the past three weeks have undermined the ceasefire. He stated,
“The resistance leadership has closely monitored the enemy’s violations and its failure to uphold the terms of the agreement.”
He elaborated on the specific grievances, including delays in the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, targeted airstrikes, and the obstruction of humanitarian aid as stipulated by the ceasefire terms.
Israel’s response to the delay
In reaction to Hamas’ announcement, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz condemned the delay as
“a complete violation”
of the ceasefire agreement, prompting him to instruct the Israeli military to maintain a heightened state of alert. An Israeli official, who preferred to remain anonymous, revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had expedited a planned meeting of his Security Cabinet to address the situation more promptly, moving it from Tuesday afternoon to the morning.
The situation remains fluid as both sides navigate the complexities of the ceasefire and the ongoing humanitarian concerns in the region.