Hamas has indefinitely postponed the release of Israeli hostages who were set to be freed from the Gaza Strip this weekend, a spokesman said on Monday, accusing IsraelтАЩs government of violating an already fragile cease-fire agreement.
In a statement on Telegram, Abu Obeida, the spokesman for HamasтАЩs military wing, accused Israel of a host of violations of the cease-fire agreement.
The move threatens to derail the cease-fire agreement reached last month. Widespread anger over the conditions some of the hostages who have been released so far тАФ malnourished, buffeted by hostile crowds, paraded before cameras and in some cases made to read statements under duress тАФ has drawn accusations in Israel that Hamas was not complying with the cease-fire agreement.
A spokesman for IsraelтАЩs defense minister, Israel Katz, called HamasтАЩs announcement тАЬa complete violation of the cease-fire agreement and the hostage release deal.тАЭ
He said he had directed IsraelтАЩs military тАЬto prepare on highest alert for every possible scenario in Gaza.тАЭ Referring to the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel that began the war, he added, тАЬWe will not allow for the reality of Oct. 7 to return.тАЭ
The initial, six-week phase of the cease-fire deal, which is scheduled to last until March 2, called for the release of 25 living hostages and the bodies of 8 who were killed, in exchange for the release of 1,500 Palestinians from Israeli prisons. About half of the exchanges have been made.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Johnatan Reiss contributed reporting from Tel Aviv.
