A senior adviser to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Taher al-Nono, has asserted that Israel breached the terms of the temporary ceasefire, hours before a reported delay in the release of the second batch of hostages.
Nono stressed that Israel haven’t adhered to clauses related to the entry of humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza, specifically concerning aid distribution in the northern Strip, where the conflict has been most intense.
While Israel allowed 200 trucks into the Strip, as stipulated by the agreement, Nono contends that Israel failed to meet conditions regarding the release of Palestinian prisoners.
According to Nono, Hamas had insisted on a different order for the release, based on the length of imprisonment, a claim disputed by Israel.
The order in which prisoners were released by Israel on Thursday reportedly did not align with the proposed length-of-imprisonment criterion set by Hamas.
Nono further accused the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) of violating the ceasefire by firing at Gazans attempting to return to northern Gaza, resulting in the deaths of two Palestinians.
Nono asserted that Hamas has gone beyond the terms of the agreement, pointing to the release of 11 Thai and Filipino nationals who were taken hostage during the October 7 massacre.
The release of these hostages, not part of the Qatar-mediated deal, is believed to have been negotiated directly between Thailand and Iran.