Hamas hostage release delayed: In a seemingly contradictory turn of events, Hamas has declared a postponement in the release of the second batch of hostages. The military wing attributes the delay to concerns about the entry of aid trucks into northern Gaza and alleged deviations from the agreed-upon standards for releasing prisoners. However, conflicting reports suggest that the release may already be underway.
Israel, on its part, has allowed 200 trucks into the Strip as stipulated by the agreement, with 50 of them reaching northern Gaza, according to Israel’s COGAT military liaison to the Palestinians. Senior Hamas official Taher al-Nono claimed earlier that Israel failed to adhere to terms related to the release of Palestinian prisoners, citing a different order of release than initially agreed upon.
Hamas hostage release: Despite these contentions, a Hamas source has informed AFP that the handover of the second batch of hostages to the Red Cross has commenced in Khan Yunis, with 14 individuals involved. The situation remains fluid and marked by mixed messages from different sources.
