Hamas says it will release hostages as planned after major dispute

Palestinians walk past a pile of burning rubbish, as there is no refuse collection in the city and people are disposing of their waste in the streets, in Gaza City (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

The Hamas militant group says it will release Israeli hostages as planned, apparently resolving a major dispute that has threatened the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas said on Thursday that Egyptian and Qatari mediators have affirmed that they will work to “remove all hurdles”, and that the group will implement the ceasefire deal.