Hamas Says Next Hostage Release to Israel Is Back On After Delay

Hamas said it’s ready to release a second group of hostages to Israel, resolving a dispute that threatened an early end to a four-day truce in Gaza and forced another round of international diplomacy.

The militant group delayed the release of 13 Israeli hostages earlier Saturday, accusing Israel of violating the terms of the truce especially regarding the delivery of humanitarian aid to northern Gaza, which has been hit hardest in the war that began last month. Israeli officials denied violating the agreement.

“There is an agreement that we started to carry out,” Israeli army spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a briefing. “We want to ensure that the agreement is implemented and if it isn’t we will continue to fight.”

Hours after the proposed time for the release had elapsed, Hamas official Bassem Naim told Bloomberg News that mediators “conveyed the occupation’s commitment to all the conditions stipulated in the agreement.”

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