Hamas suggests no more ceasefire talks until Israel frees prisoners

Israeli hostages, from left to right, Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem and Omer Wenkert, before being handed over to the Red Cross on Saturday (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

A Hamas official said Israel’s delay in the release of some 600 Palestinian prisoners constitutes a “serious violation” of the ceasefire agreement, and suggested that 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 October 7 2023 attack. But Israel delayed the release over the treatment of the captives, who were paraded before crowds.