Hamas Delays Hostage Release, Accuses Israel Of Violating Ceasefire Deal

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Tensions in Gaza have escalated as Hamas announced a delay in the scheduled hostage release, accusing Israel of breaching the ceasefire agreement.

In a statement on X, Abu Obeida, spokesperson for Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, declared that the prisoner handover planned for Saturday was postponed indefinitely. He claimed the delay would remain in effect "until the occupation commits to and compensates for the entitlements of the past weeks retroactively."

“We affirm our commitment to the terms of the agreement as long as the occupation upholds them,” Obeida added.

Israel Responds With Military Readiness

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz condemned Hamas’ move, calling it a “complete violation” of the ceasefire deal. He instructed Israel’s military to remain on high alert and prepare for "any possible scenario in Gaza."

Far-right Israeli politician and former Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, took an even harder stance, calling for a "massive attack on Gaza." In a statement Monday, he urged Israel to cut off all humanitarian aid, including electricity, fuel, and water, and even suggested bombing aid supplies already in Hamas’ possession.

Fragile Ceasefire on the Brink

Both Hamas and Israel have repeatedly accused each other of violating the ceasefire, raising concerns about whether the fragile truce—reached after more than 15 months of negotiations—will hold.

On Saturday, Hamas released three hostages as part of the latest exchange under the ceasefire agreement, while Israel freed 183 Palestinian prisoners—18 of whom were serving life sentences. Many of the prisoners had been held without formal charges since the conflict reignited on October 7.

So far, Hamas has released 16 Israeli hostages out of the 33 it committed to freeing in the first phase of the deal. However, Israel claims that eight of those hostages are already dead.

Stalemate in Negotiations

Currently, Hamas and its allies are still holding 73 hostages from the October 7 attack, in addition to three others taken captive in 2014.

The ceasefire agreement, brokered in Qatar last month, had outlined plans for a second phase of negotiations, which were scheduled to begin Monday. However, earlier that day, the Hamas-run Gaza Government Media Office accused Israel of blocking the entry of shelter supplies promised in the truce.

With both sides locked in accusations and hostilities rising, the future of the ceasefire—and any hope of further hostage releases—remains uncertain.

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