It said Hamas will stop releasing more Israeli hostages until further notice.
Terrorist groups accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement by preventing Palestinians from returning to their homes and shelling civilians.
Israel and Hamas are in the midst of a six-week ceasefire, during which Hamas released dozens of hostages in the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Members of the al-Qassam Brigade of Hamas Military Forces gathered last month before the hostages were released – Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu via Getty Images
Since the ceasefire came into effect last month, the two sides have conducted five swaps, freeing 21 hostages and more than 730 prisoners.
The next exchange is scheduled to take place on Saturday, with three Israeli hostages set to be issued in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
On Monday, Abu Obeida, spokesman for the Qassam Brigade of Hamas military forces, accused Israel of systematic breaching the ceasefire agreement over the past three weeks and said Saturday’s release would be postponed.
An Israeli official said some of Hamas’ claims were “just fake” and that terrorist groups also violated the agreement. The official said that the ceasefire transaction intermediaries must take action to prevent the development of the “crisis”.
Or Israel Hostage Levy reunites with her family on weekends – Haim Zach/GPO/REUTERS
Israeli Defense Minister Katz called Hamas’s declaration “a complete violation of the ceasefire agreement” and kept the Israeli military highly vigilant.
He added: “I have directed the IDF to prepare and protect the community with the highest level of alert in any possible circumstances in Gaza.”
The health of hostages means “time is essence”
Representatives to the Forum on Hostages and Missing Families of Israeli Captives held in Gaza urged assistance from countries that mediate the ceasefire in the “effective recovery and implementation of existing transactions”.
Or Levy, Eli Sharabi and Ohad Ben Ami, three Israeli hostages released over the weekend, seemingly losing a lot of weight in captivity
It added: “We stand with the Israeli government and encourage the maintenance of conditions that ensure the successful continuation of the agreement, resulting in the safe return of our 76 siblings.
“The latest evidence of the shocking conditions of the people recently released and the hostages released last Saturday has no space for doubt – time is essentially, and all hostages must be rescued from such a horrible situation.”
Israeli officials said some of Hamas’ claims were “simple” and that terrorist groups also violated the agreement.
The official said that the ceasefire transaction intermediaries must take action to prevent the development of the “crisis”.
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