Hamas threatens delay of next release of Israeli hostages over aid shipments to northern Gaza

Hamas was expected to swap more of its hostages Saturday for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons on the second day of a ceasefire that has allowed critical humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and given civilians their first respite in seven weeks.

However, by Saturday evening Hamas said it was delaying the release of the second group of hostages, claiming that Israel had not complied with the deal’s terms and not delivered enough aid to the besieged enclave.

Hamas did not specify the delay’s length. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said 196 trucks of aid entered on Friday and Israel said four fuel trucks and four tanks of gas entered Saturday.

There was no immediate Israeli response to Hamas’s statement about the delay.

On the first day of the four-day ceasefire, Hamas released 24 of the about 240 hostages taken during its Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians detained in prison. Those freed from captivity in Gaza included 13 Israelis. 

A Philippine national and 10 Thai citizens — farm workers employed in southern Israel when they were seized — were freed under a separate agreement mediated by Egypt.

The families of hostages expressed mixed emotions, fearing for those left behind.

“I’m not dead, I’m not dead,” Thai farm worker Vetoon Phoome told his family, who thought he had been killed in the Hamas attack seven weeks ago, according to his sister, Roongarun Wichagern.

She told Reuters from her home in northeastern Thailand that her 33-year-old brother’s survival was a “miracle.”

Thailand said 20 of its nationals remain captive, with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin urging their release “as soon as possible” in a post on social media.

More hostages, detainees to be released

A source briefed on the negotiations said the Thai release was unrelated to the truce deal with Israel and followed a separate track of talks with Hamas mediated by Egypt and Qatar.

Under the agreement, Hamas will release one Israeli hostage for every three Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. Israel’s Prison Service said Saturday it was preparing 42 Palestinians for release, suggesting Hamas would release 14 hostages. It was not immediately clear how many non-Israeli captives may also be released.