Hamas says it will delay hostage release set for Saturday

A Palestinian man wearing a red shirt, left, stands amidst the rubble of destroyed buildings, watching Israeli soldiers, bottom right, take position in the northern Gaza Strip Feb 9, 2025. AP Photo-Ohad Zwigenberg

Feb 10 (AP/UNB)--A spokesperson for Hamas says it will delay the next hostage release after accusing Israel of violating a ceasefire agreement.

Israel and Hamas are in the midst of a six-week ceasefire during which Hamas has committed to releasing 33 hostages captured in its Oct. 7, 2023, attack in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

The next exchange, scheduled for Saturday, called for three more Israeli hostages to be freed in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Abu Obeida, the spokesperson for Hamas’ military wing, accused Israel of systematically violating the ceasefire agreement over the past three weeks. He cited “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.”

In response, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the delay by Hamas was “a complete violation” of the ceasefire agreement and that he instructed the Israeli military to be on the highest level of alert.