Handover of second batch of Israeli hostages is delayed as Hamas demands aid trucks are sent to northern Gaza

• Hamas is expected to hand over a further 14 Israeli hostages later today 
• Qatari negotiators are expected in Israel later today to push for a truce extention

Hamas has begun handing over a second batch of Israeli hostages to the Red Cross on the Gaza Strip, it has been announced. 

A source within the terror organisation told APB that the hostages were being released under the terms of the deal with Israel. 

According to the source: ‘The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades have begun handing the second group of Israeli prisoners over to the Red Cross in (the southern city of) Khan Yunis. There are 14 of them.’ 

However, Reuters reports that the handover has been delayed until Israel commits to sending a relief convoy with aid supplies into northern Gaza. 

Hamas has handed over a second group of Israeli hostages, AFP reports

The hostages have been held captive since they were abducted by Hamas during the October 7 terror massacre

The truce between Israel and Hamas has so far held. Pictured: People gathering on the Rafah border crossing where aid trucks are expected to be passing once the handover begins

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.

There was no immediate Israeli response to the statement. 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.

Under the truce deal between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar, a total of 50 hostages are to be exchanged for 150 Palestinian prisoners, some of them convicted on weapon charges and violent offences, over four days.

In the first exchange on Friday, 13 Israeli women and children – out of around 240 hostages captured by Hamas fighters on a killing spree in southern Israel on Oct. 7 – were released. Twenty-four jailed Palestinian women and 15 teenagers were released from Israeli jails.

Saturday’s setback came just hours after Egypt, which controls the Rafah border crossing into southern Gaza through which vital aid supplies have resumed, said it had received ‘positive signals’ from all parties over a possible extension of that deal.

Israeli families are preparing to greet their relatives who are due to be released later today

Empty chairs represent the people who were abducted by Hamas more than a month ago

Diaa Rashwan, the head of Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS), said in a statement that Cairo was holding extensive talks with all parties to reach an agreement which would mean ‘the release of more detainees in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.’

Israel has said the ceasefire could be extended if Hamas continues to release hostages at a rate of at least 10 per day. A Palestinian source has said up to 100 hostages could go free.

Israel and Hamas have said hostilities would resume as soon as the truce ends, although U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday there was a real chance of extending the truce.

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