A spokesman for Hamas' armed wing announced a delay in the scheduled release of Israeli hostages, citing alleged Israeli breaches of the ceasefire agreement.

Three hostages were set to be freed on Saturday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz condemned the move, calling it a “complete violation of the ceasefire agreement.”

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump, a key Israeli ally, suggested the ceasefire should be scrapped if all hostages are not returned by Saturday.

"They ought to be returned by 12 o’clock on Saturday… all of them, not in dribs and drabs," he said.

"I'm speaking for myself," he stressed. "Israel can override it."

Seventy-three hostages taken during Hamas's attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, and three others taken a decade earlier, are still being held in Gaza.

If hostages were not released, Trump added, "All hell is going to break out."

Asked whether he meant retaliation from Israel, he said: "You'll find out, and they'll find out too. Hamas will find out what I mean."

Katz said he had ordered the Israel Defense Forces to "prepare at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza and to protect the communities".

"We will not allow a return to the reality of 7 October," the Israeli defence minister added.

Hamas's announcement came shortly before people gathered in Tel Aviv to mark the 24th birthday of Israeli hostage Alon Ohel, his second in captivity.

Hamas took 251 hostages and killed about 1,200 people when it attacked in October 2023. Israel launched a military campaign in response, killing at least 48,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Source: BBC

BDST: 1155 HRS, FEB 11, 2024
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