The move from Hamas' armed branch, al-Qassam Brigade, comes after dissatisfaction over Israel's repeated breaches of the ceasefire.
According to Abu Ubaida, spokesperson for Hamas' armed branch, Israel has delayed Gaza residents' opportunities to reach northern Gaza and blocked aid shipments to the strip.
The next release of hostages in Gaza was scheduled to take place on Saturday, and in a later statement, the terrorist-stamped group says that the message about a pause should primarily be seen as a "warning" to pressure Israel to act strictly according to the agreement.
Giving Mediators Time
Hamas has "deliberately made the statement five days before the scheduled prisoner exchange to give mediators enough time to pressure Israel to fulfill its commitments", the group writes and continues:
"The door is still open for the prisoner exchange to be carried out as planned".
Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz writes in a statement about Hamas' first message that it is "a total breach of the agreement".
He simultaneously announces that he has ordered the military to be on high alert for "all possible scenarios in Gaza".
Relatives Plead
Relatives of the hostages urge the Israeli government in their own statement to "refrain from all actions that risk the signed agreement being implemented".
So far, 21 people from the hostages have been released since the ceasefire began. Israel has simultaneously released a large number of imprisoned Palestinians.
According to The Times of Israel, 73 people are still being held hostage in Gaza, including at least 34 people who the Israeli military has confirmed have died.
Facts: The Agreement
TT
The Gaza war began with the terrorist-stamped Hamas' major attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The current ceasefire began on January 19 this year and is scheduled to last for six weeks.
A key part of the agreement is that Israel releases Palestinian prisoners, while Hamas releases people from the hostages taken during the attack.
Israel is to release a total of around 1,900 prisoners. Exactly how many are released each time is unclear, but it is to happen simultaneously with Hamas releasing hostages.
When phase one is over, around 60 Israelis are expected to remain as hostages. The idea is that they will be released in a new phase of the ceasefire, which will also pave the way for longer-term calm in the Gaza Strip. But the circumstances for this have not yet been negotiated.
Sources: Haaretz, BBC
