Hamas delays release of more Israeli hostages

Hamas' military wing announced the postponement of the second hostage release, demanding that Israel "comply with the terms" of the original deal.

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced on November 25 that it would postpone the release of the second hostage until Israel increased the number of trucks carrying humanitarian aid allowed into the northern Gaza Strip.

Hamas warned that the hostage release process could be further delayed if Israel "fails to comply with the terms" of the initial deal to release Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli officials confirmed on the same day that Hamas had not yet handed over the second group of hostages to the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip. Israeli media revealed that the country's authorities had set a deadline of 0:00 on November 26 (5:00 Hanoi time) for Hamas to release the hostages and threatened to end the ceasefire.

Earlier, the Israeli army was informed by Hamas that the second group of hostages consisted of 13 people, mostly residents of the Be'eri settlement, one of the communities that suffered the most casualties when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7.

A formation of Israeli armored vehicles operates in the northern Gaza Strip on November 22. Photo: Reuters — A formation of Israeli armored vehicles operates in the northern Gaza Strip on November 22. Photo: *Reuters*

About 200 trucks carrying humanitarian aid have entered the Gaza Strip in the first two days of the ceasefire, with 50 allowed to go to the northern region, which has been the scene of the most brutal fighting in more than a month.

Hamas released 24 hostages in the first wave on November 24, including 13 Israelis, 10 Thais and one Filipino. Israel also released 39 Palestinian prisoners on the same day.

However, Hamas official Taher al-Nono accused Israel of not releasing Palestinian prisoners as requested. The armed group in the Gaza Strip wants Tel Aviv to release Palestinians in order of years of imprisonment, giving priority to those who have been imprisoned the longest.

Hamas also accused the Israeli army of violating the agreement by firing warning shots at Palestinians trying to return to the northern Gaza Strip during the ceasefire. The clashes left at least two Palestinians dead.

The Israeli military warned that implementing the hostage release deal would be complex and unpredictable, and asked Palestinians not to leave the refugee zone and return to the northern Gaza Strip during the ceasefire days. An official from Israel’s Southern Command said the military was ready to respond to any threat during this period.

Thanh Danh (According to Reuters, Times of Israel )

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