Hamas delays hostage release

Hamas's armed wing said on Saturday it was delaying the handover of a second group of hostages due to be released under a ceasefire agreement until Israel "starts adhering to the terms of the agreement."

An Israeli official confirmed to AFP that the hostages had not yet been handed over to the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip.

Earlier, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades were believed to have begun handing over the second group of hostages, which has to be released under the ceasefire agreement with Israel. /BGNES