The militants are pushing back the handover until ‘adheres to the terms’ of the ceasefire agreement.
The armed wing of Hamas said on Saturday it was delaying the handover of a second group of hostages due to be released under a truce deal until Israel “adheres to the terms of the agreement”.
The entry of humanitarian aid to the north of the Gaza Strip and the selection criteria for the liberation of prisoners were the issues in question, the al-Qassam Brigades said in a statement.
An Israeli official confirmed to Agence France-Presse that the hostages had not yet been handed over to the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip.
Earlier an Israeli military spokesperson had told France’s BFM television station that, barring last minute changes, 13 Israeli hostages were expected to be freed.
