Hamas said in a statement on Saturday it was delaying the release of the second group of hostages over what it called Israeli violations of a deal between the militant group and Israel, Paralel.Az reports citing Axios.

Hamas claimed earlier that Israel violated the deal by not releasing Palestinian prisoners in the way the two parties agreed on, allowing less aid to reach northern Gaza than was supposed to under the agreement, and by operating drones in the southern part of the enclave.

Hamas said in a statement that "the release of the second group of hostages is delayed due to Israel's non-compliance with the agreement's terms," per Haaretz.