Hamas pauses Israeli hostage releases until further notice
Hamas will pause the release of more Israeli hostages until further notice, it has said.
The terror group accused Israel of breaching the ceasefire deal by blocking Palestinians from returning to their homes and shelling civilians.
Israel and Hamas are in the midst of a six-week ceasefire, during which Hamas is releasing dozens of the hostages captured in its Oct 7 2023 attack on Israel in exchange for almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Members of the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing, gather ahead of a hostage release last month – Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu via Getty Images
The sides have carried out five swaps since the ceasefire came into effect last month, freeing 21 hostages and more than 730 prisoners.
The next exchange was scheduled for Saturday, with the release three Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
On Monday, Abu Obeida, the spokesman for the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing, accused Israel of systematically violating the ceasefire agreement over the past three weeks and said Saturday’s release would be delayed.
An Israeli official said some of Hamas’s claims were “simply fake” and that the terror group had also violated the agreement, Israeli media reported. The official was said to have added that ceasefire deal mediators must act to prevent a “crisis” developing.
Or Levy, an Israeli hostage, is reunited with his family at the weekend – Haim Zach/GPO/REUTERS
Israel Katz, the Israeli defence minister, called Hamas’s announcement a “complete violation of the ceasefire agreement” and placed the Israeli military on high alert.
“I have instructed the IDF to prepare at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza and to protect the communities,” he added.
Hostages’ health means ‘time is of the essence’
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents Israeli captives held in Gaza, urged for assistance from countries mediating the ceasefire “to help restore and implement the existing deal effectively”.
Or Levy, Eli Sharabi and Ohad Ben Ami, the three Israeli hostages released at the weekend, appeared to have lost a lot of weight in captivity
It added: “We stand with the Israeli government and encourage maintaining the conditions that will ensure the successful continuation of the agreement, leading to the safe return of our 76 brothers and sisters.
“Recent evidence from those released, as well as the shocking conditions of the hostages released last Saturday, leaves no room for doubt – time is of the essence, and all hostages must be urgently rescued from this horrific situation.”
An Israeli official said some of Hamas’ claims are “simply fake” and that the terror group had also violated the agreement, Israeli media reported.
The official was said to have added that ceasefire deal mediators must act to prevent a “crisis” developing.
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