Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday ordered the army to be at the highest level of alert for any potential developments in Gaza after Hamas delayed the hostage release, citing Israeli violations of the cease-fire that began on Jan. 19.
Hamas said it would delay the sixth exchange as part of the first phase of the Gaza cease-fire deal, which was scheduled for Saturday, for delaying the return of displaced people to northern Gaza, targeting them with shelling and gunfire, and preventing the entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave.
Katz claimed the Hamas announcement constitutes an "outright violation" of the truce agreement, adding: "I instructed the Israeli army to prepare at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza."
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that "all the families of the hostages were informed this evening of Hamas's announcement."
"The families were made aware that the State of Israel is committed to respecting the agreement and considers any violation of it with the utmost seriousness," it added.
The Hostage Families Forum campaign group said it had "requested assistance from the mediating countries to help restore and implement the existing deal effectively".
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian group Hamas, announced on Monday the postponement of the scheduled release of Israeli hostages set for Saturday until further notice, citing Israel's "violations" of the Gaza cease-fire agreement.
"Over the past three weeks, the resistance leadership has monitored the enemy's (Israeli) violations and its failure to adhere to the terms of the agreement, including delaying the return of displaced people to northern Gaza, targeting them with shelling and gunfire across various areas of the Strip, and preventing the entry of humanitarian aid in all its forms as per the agreement, while the resistance has fully upheld its commitments," said spokesperson Abu Obaida in a statement on Telegram.
"Accordingly, the release of the Zionist (Israeli) prisoners, which was scheduled for the coming Saturday, will be postponed until further notice, pending the occupation's full compliance with the agreement and compensation for the past weeks' entitlements retroactively," he added.
The spokesperson said the group remained committed to the agreement "as long as" Israel "abides by its terms."
Following this announcement, Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the army to prepare at the "highest level of alert" for any possible scenario in Gaza.
Katz said the Hamas announcement constitutes an "outright violation" of the truce agreement, adding: "I instructed the Israeli army to prepare at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza."
