Conflicts & War

Hamas announces delay in release of hostages due to Israeli violations of agreement

Jerusalem, Nov 25 (EFE). – The Islamist group Hamas announced Saturday that it is delaying the release of a second group of Israeli hostages after accusing Israel of violating the terms of their agreement regarding the entry of humanitarian aid and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

“We are delaying the release of the second group of prisoners until the occupation fulfills the terms of the agreement regarding the entry of aid trucks into the northern Gaza Strip, and due to the non-compliance with the agreed upon rules for the release of prisoners,” the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said in a statement.

However, in a brief statement, the group did not specify how long the delay would be or whether it could finally be carried out in the next few hours.

Israeli sources denied to EFE that they had violated the terms of the pact.

Taher al Nono, advisor to Israel Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau – both based in Qatar – accused Israel hours before the brigades’ announcement of violating the terms of the agreement they reached this week for the exchange of 50 Israeli prisoners for 150 Palestinian prisoners, in addition to a 4-day truce and the entry of 200 trucks of humanitarian aid daily.

On Friday, the first day of the truce, Hamas released 13 Israeli hostages – in addition to ten Thais and a Filipino – while Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners as part of the pact.

“The occupation has carried out shooting operations against many citizens during the ceasefire, resulting in the martyrdom of two citizens yesterday,” Nono said, in what he considered a violation of the truce.

The UN on Saturday confirmed the death of at least one Gazan civilian by Israeli fire in Deir al-Balah, in the south of the enclave, as groups of Gazans tried to take advantage of the ceasefire to return to their homes in the northern part, where Israel ordered the forced evacuation of residents weeks ago.

Haniyeh’s aide also complained that the flow of humanitarian aid into the Strip has been “much less than agreed,” and according to the Brigades, not enough has reached the north.

Egypt confirmed today that some 50 trucks carrying humanitarian aid for the northern strip entered the strip through the Rafah crossing today, while the Red Crescent raised the number to 61.

“The largest convoy of 61 trucks of humanitarian aid for the northern governorates of Gaza, loaded with food and other items, water, basic medicines and emergency medical supplies, entered today through Rafah,” the aid organization confirmed.

According to Hamas, the agreement called for the entry of at least 200 trucks of humanitarian aid and food per day, as well as four trucks of fuel, but did not specify how many were to reach the north.

The UN reported that 137 trucks of aid and some 130,000 liters of fuel entered Friday, the first day of the agreement; but COGAT the Israeli military body that controls civilian affairs in the occupied territories, raised the number to 200 trucks.

“The criminal actions of the Zionist occupation pose a threat to the implementation of the agreement and the completion of this process,” Nono said on behalf of Hamas.

According to Nono, Israel also failed to meet the seniority requirement in the release of the 39 Palestinian prisoners, 24 women and 15 teenagers,Friday.

“The occupation’s disregard for the issue of seniority in the release of prisoners puts the agreement in real jeopardy,” Nono said, while another 42 Palestinian prisoners were scheduled to leave on Saturday.EFE

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