"Not Fulfilling the Ceasefire Agreement"
Families and supporters of hostages captured in a surprise attack by the Palestinian armed group Hamas held a protest on May 6, 2024 (local time) in Tel Aviv, Israel, demanding their release. Hamas claimed on the 10th (local time) that Israel was not properly implementing the ceasefire agreement and announced it would postpone the scheduled hostage release on the 15th./AFP·Yonhap News Photo by Yonhap
Palestinian armed group Hamas claimed on the 10th (local time) that Israel is not properly implementing the ceasefire agreement and announced that it will postpone the scheduled hostage release on the 15th.
Abu Obeida, spokesperson for Hamas' military wing Al-Qassam Brigades, said in a Telegram statement that "the handover of Zionist (Israeli) hostages, which was scheduled for Saturday (the 15th), is postponed until further notice."
Obeida stated, "We have observed over the past three weeks that the enemy (Israel) has not adhered to the terms of the agreement," and claimed, "They have delayed the return of residents in northern Gaza, fired shots, and relief supplies have not been distributed in several areas of the Gaza Strip."
Obeida added, "We are fulfilling all our obligations (as per the agreement)," and said that the hostage release will be delayed until the Israeli military complies with the previously violated agreement.
On the 19th of last month, the Israeli military and Hamas entered a phased ceasefire to halt fighting in the Gaza Strip for six weeks (42 days), but tensions escalated as both sides accused each other of violating the agreement.
The Palestinian Authority expressed dissatisfaction the previous day, stating that several civilians were killed by Israeli military gunfire in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. According to AFP, on the 9th (local time), Israel bombed underground tunnels used by Hezbollah for arms smuggling near the Lebanon and Syria border areas.
The Israeli military had blocked the 'Netzarim Corridor,' a passage crossing the Gaza Strip from north to south, for a while, accusing Hamas of breaking its promise to release civilian female hostages first, but withdrew from the area the day before.
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