Jerusalem – Palestinian militant group Hamas announced on Monday that it would stop releasing Israeli hostages until further notice, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement.
Hamas’ military wing spokesperson, Abu Ubaida, claimed that Israel had delayed the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, targeted civilians with military attacks, and restricted the entry of relief materials into the region.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz responded by stating that Hamas itself had breached the ceasefire with this decision. He ordered the Israeli military to maintain the highest level of readiness in Gaza to protect Israeli communities.
The ceasefire, which came into effect on January 19, has largely held despite some incidents where Palestinian casualties were reported due to Israeli gunfire. Aid agencies confirm that humanitarian assistance to Gaza has increased during the truce.
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Hamas warned that no further hostage exchanges would take place until Israel “complies and compensates for the past weeks.” Another hostage exchange had been scheduled for Saturday.
As tensions rise, the future of the ceasefire agreement remains uncertain.
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