Israeli authorities decided to cancel family visits for Hamas prisoners in Israeli jails until further notice, according to a local Palestinian NGO.

The "surprising" decision of the Israel Prison Service "comes in the context of pressure upon Hamas movement," Palestinian Prisoners Media Center said in a statement.

"It also comes in response to calls from the families of Israeli soldiers captured by Hamas in Gaza," it added.

According to the statement, this punishment may represent the first in a series of sanctions to be imposed by the Israeli Prison Service against Hamas prisoners in the coming period.