A Hamas official says Israel’s delay in the release of some 600 Palestinian prisoners is a “serious violation” of the ceasefire agreement and talks on a second phase of the accord are not possible until they are returned. As part of the agreement, Israel was supposed to release the prisoners last weekend after Hamas freed hostages from its Oct. 7, 2023, attack. But Israel delayed the release over the treatment of the captives, who were paraded before crowds. The senior Hamas official said that Israel’s delay puts the agreement at risk of collapse and could lead to a resumption of war.
