**Hamas Postpones Release of Israeli Hostages**
The armed wing of Hamas has announced that it will delay the release of Israeli hostages. A spokesperson for Hamas blamed Israel for violating a ceasefire agreement.
Three hostages in Gaza were supposed to be released on Saturday, but now they won’t be until Israel meets its obligations. The releases are part of an exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
**Israel Disagrees with Hamas**
The announcement has been met with disagreement from the Israeli side. Defense Minister Israel Katz called it a “complete violation of the ceasefire accord”. He said that Israel will take precautions to protect communities in Gaza.
Hamas claims that Israel has delayed the return of Palestinians displaced to the north and fired on people, which is against the agreement. The group says it will not release hostages until these issues are resolved.
**Thousands Rally for Israeli Hostages**
Meanwhile, thousands gathered in Tel Aviv to celebrate the 24th birthday of one of the Israeli hostages, Alon Ahel. A participant at the rally said that “immense” pressure should be applied to free the remaining hostages.
Others have expressed their frustration with Hamas’ delays, saying that it’s taking too long for the hostages to be released. A spokesperson for the United Nations also expressed concern about any delay in the fragile ceasefire agreement.