Hamas armed groups said negotiations to talk with Israel about further steps to the Gaza ceasefire agreement were conditional with the consent of Palestinian prisoners.
Israel said on Sunday, February 23 that it delayed the release of more than 600 Palestinians in exchange for six living hostages and four dead hostages who were released, accusing Hamas of repeated violations, including a “humiliation” handover ceremony .
But on Monday, senior Hamas officials said the decision exposed the entire agreement to “serious danger” and called on mediators, especially the United States, to put pressure on Israel.
The first phase of the deal and a temporary six-week truce will expire on Saturday, but the second phase of indirect negotiations and the end of the war have not yet begun.
Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi asked Israel to “release 600 Palestinian prisoners scheduled to be released on Saturday” in a statement on the telegram to fulfill the ceasefire agreement.
Mardawi said the organization has not changed its position on further negotiations.
Denied it was in a Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq al-Awsat claimed that negotiations between Israel and Hamas were moving forward and would soon lead to the transfer of the bodies of the two hostages.
However, Hamas and unnamed Israeli sources have been cited by multiple Hebrew media outlets.
Earlier on Monday, February 24, YNET reported that Israeli negotiators told mediators that if Hamas agreed to return four bodies without conducting public rituals, they would continue to release prisoners, just like Shiri Bibas, Her children Ariel and Kfir and Kfir and Kfir and Kfir and Kfir and Kfir and Kfir and Kfir and Kfir and Kfir and Kfir and Kfir are the same as ODED LIFSHITZ.
Israel announced on Sunday that it delayed the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners until Hamas stopped what it called a “shaming ceremony” during the hostage transfer.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the ceasefire is “unstable” and that hostilities must be avoided at all costs.
He also called for “the dignified release of all remaining hostages”.
