Hamas said it would not continue with ceasefire talks with Israel by intermediaries unless Israel went ahead with the planned release of Palestinian detainees, top official Mahmoud Mardawi said on Sunday.
The position of the militant group comes in response to Israel’s move to postpone releasing 620 Palestinian prisoners, who had been set for release on Saturday. Israeli officials said they would not move until Hamas gave guarantees to prevent what they called “humiliating” staged releases of captives.
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Hamas official Basem Naim reaffirmed that no additional talks of the tenuous ceasefire deal would occur until Israel lives up to its promise. The tensions confirm the vulnerability of the staged truce between both sides.
Since both sides continue to be stalemated, the slowdown of prisoner releases can jeopardize mediating efforts geared towards maintaining the ceasefire and agreeing on additional hostage swaps.
