Beirut, 10 February 2025 (dpa/MIA) - The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas is indefinitely postponing the release of the next set of Israeli hostages being held in Gaza, spokesman Abu Obeida announced on Monday, saying Israel had failed to abide by the terms of their ceasefire agreement.

Three more hostages had been scheduled to be freed on Saturday in exchange for dozens of Palestinian prisoners as part of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

This will only be possible if Israel adheres to the agreement again, Hamas said.

Obeida said that Hamas fundamentally supports the agreement on the ceasefire, which went into effect on January 19 for an initial six weeks, and the exchange of hostages for imprisoned Palestinians.

Israel, on the other hand, has delayed the return of displaced people to the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at various points in the territory and obstructed the delivery of aid supplies, Obeida said.

He said Hamas has complied with all aspects of the deal.

Israel has repeatedly rejected accusations that it is violating the agreement. Israeli government spokesman David Mencer has in particular denied that Israel has blocked aid deliveries to the territory.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the announcement by Hamas as a serious violation of the ceasefire agreement.

"I have instructed the IDF to prepare for every possible scenario in Gaza with the highest state of alert and to protect the villages [on the edge of the Gaza Strip]," he said.

Hamas has so far freed 16 of a total of 33 Israeli hostages in five rounds under the first phase of the ongoing ceasefire. It has also released five Thai nationals, who were not included in the agreement.

In return, Israel has released 583 Palestinian prisoners, out of a planned 1,904.

MIA file photo