Hamas says he will postpone the launch of hostages, blaming Israel

A spokesman for Hamas’ armed wing says that the group is postponing the next programmed liberation of Israeli hostages, blaming what they said were Israeli violations of the high -fire agreement.

Three hostages held in Gaza will be released on Saturday in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners in Israel.

Abu Obeida said the releases would not continue until Israel fulfilled their obligations. He said that violations included delaying the return of the Palestinians displaced to the north, shooting people and not allowing Gaza’s humanitarian aid “in all its agreed forms.”

Israel’s Minister of Defense described the announcement “a complete violation of the high the fire agreement.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz said he had ordered the Israel Defense Forces (FDI) “to prepare at the highest alert level for any possible scenario in Gaza and protect communities.

“We will not allow a return to the reality of October 7 (2023),” when Hamas attacked Israel, triggering war.

Hamas’ announcement came shortly before people gathered in Tel Aviv to mark the 24th birthday of the Israeli hostage Alon OhelHis second in captivity.

It was taken hostage from the Nova Festival on October 7, 2023.

Mia Goldstein, an assistant to Ohel’s demonstration, told the BBC that he should “immense pressure” to get the rest of the hostages, adding that Hamas’s delay is “horrible.”

Michal Neeman, who participated in a protest in Tel Aviv after Hamas’ announcement, said the hostages “should have been out a few months ago. You see the situation, they are dying there and their blood is at the hands of this government.”

The United Nations spokesman Farhan Haq said that “any delay” to the fragile high fire agreement would be a problem, and said that all the parties involved should comply with their previously declared agreements and deadlines.

But Hamas has said that the “door remains open” to the exchange that advances on Saturday, if Israel “complies”, according to the AFP news agency.

The accusations made by Hamas on Monday include that Israel is “delaying the return of people displaced to northern Gaza”, “directing them with bombing and shots in several areas of the strip”, and to breach the agreement on help supplies.

But the announcement did not refer to Donald Trump or an American policy, but occurs after strong comments made last week by the president of the United States on the United States Taking possession of Gaza and rebuild it.

His proposal included the resettlement of Palestinians outside the territory, and has been praised as “revolutionary and creative” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The militant group The statement is the last of a series of recriminating actions between the two parties.

Israel delayed for two days allowing the displaced Palestinians to return to the north of the Gaza Strip, accusing Hamas of renouncing a commitment to free an Israeli civil hostage.

Israel also recently briefly delayed the buses that led the Palestinian prisoners to be released to occupied Bank, after expressing anger about the way the hostages were released through many spectators in Gaza hours before.

On Friday, Hamas exceeded for a short time a deadline to launch the names of the hostages that will be released on Saturday – As required under the fire – causing concern in Israel. This occurred after accusing Israel of not fulfilling its commitment to increase the amount of humanitarian aid allowed Gaza, contradicting what the UN humanitarian chief had described as a “mass increase.”

Since the ceasefire began on January 19, 16 Israeli hostages and five Thai have been released in exchange for 566 prisoners.

At the end of the first stage of Alto El Fuego in three weeks, 33 hostages and 1,900 prisoners are expected to have been released. Israel says that eight of the 33 are dead.

Hamas took 251 hostages and killed about 1,200 people when he attacked in October 2023. Israel launched a military campaign in response, killing at least 48,000 Palestinians, according to the Ministry of Health of Hamas.

Seventy -three hostages taken on October 7, and another three taken a decade earlier, they are still detained in Gaza.