Hamas delays hostage release, demands aid to northern Gaza

Hamas's armed wing claim Israel violated terms of the truce deal; Israel says offensive to resume if hostages not released by midnight

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The armed wing of Hamas said it had decided to delay Saturday's scheduled second round of hostage releases until Israel committed to allowing aid trucks to enter northern Gaza.

Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades said the hostage releases would be delayed if Israel did not adhere to the agreed terms for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Osama Hamdan, the Hamas representative in Lebanon, told the Lebanon-based Al Mayadeen TV channel that the suspension was due to violations of the truce committed by Israel "linked to aid (entering Gaza), in addition to shootings and the rising death toll... Some of (these violations) happened yesterday, and repeated today," Hamdan said.

Israeli media on Saturday quoted an unnamed security source as saying that unless hostages are released by midnight local time, the military will resume its offensive in Gaza, after Hamas said it was delaying the swap deal.

Earlier an Israeli military spokesperson had told France's BFM television station that, barring last minute changes, 13 Israeli hostages were expected to be freed.

He said 39 Palestinian prisoners would be released in return.