Hamas accuses Israel of ceasefire violations, vows to delay hostage release

A Hamas spokesman has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement with the group, including targeting Palestinians in Gaza with airstrikes, and announced that the next scheduled hostage release would be delayed.

The spokesman, Abu Obeida, who represents Hamas' military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, claimed that Israel had "systematically" breached the terms of the agreement over the past three weeks, Caliber.Az reports, citing Arab media.

“The resistance leadership has closely monitored the enemy’s violations and its failure to uphold the terms of the agreement,” Abu Obeida said. “This includes delays in allowing displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza, targeting them with airstrikes and gunfire across various areas of the Strip, and failing to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid as agreed.”

Israel and Hamas are currently in the midst of a six-week ceasefire, during which the group has been releasing dozens of hostages taken during its October 7, 2023, attack in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Since the truce took effect last month, both sides have conducted five prisoner swaps, resulting in the release of 21 hostages and over 730 Palestinian prisoners. The next exchange, scheduled for Saturday, was to see three Israeli hostages freed in return for hundreds of Palestinian detainees. However, Hamas has now announced a delay in the process, citing what it says are Israeli infractions of the deal.

By Khagan Isayev