ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Hamas on Monday announced it was delaying the next set of Israeli hostage releases “until further notice,” accusing Israel of violating the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

“During the past three weeks, the resistance leadership has monitored the enemy’s violations and failure to abide by the terms of the agreement, including delaying the return of the displaced to the northern Gaza Strip, targeting them with shelling and gunfire in various areas of the Strip, and not allowing relief supplies of all kinds to enter as agreed upon, while the resistance has implemented all of its obligations,” Abu Ubaida, a spokesperson for the Palestinian group, said in a statement.

The spokesperson said that the release of the Israeli hostages who were slated to be handed over to Israeli authorities on Saturday has been accordingly postponed, adding that the resumption of the hostage-prisoner exchange is “pending the occupation's compliance and retroactive fulfilment of the past weeks' obligations.”

The Gaza truce has not spared the Palestinian people from Israel’s brutality, as the Israeli military continues to carry out deadly raids in the occupied West Bank – separated from the Gaza Strip by Israeli territory.

“We reaffirm our commitment to the terms of the agreement as long as the occupation adheres to them,” the statement added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly holding security consultations following the announcement from Hamas, and is set to convene the security cabinet to discuss the developments on Tuesday.

Netanyahu’s office said that they have informed the families of the hostages of Hamas’ announcement, stressing that Israel is "committed to respecting" the ceasefire agreement.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz called Hamas' decision to postpone the release of hostages an “outright violation of the ceasefire,” adding that he has instructed the military to “prepare at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza.”

“We will not return to the reality of October 7,” the minister added.

The Gaza ceasefire was structured in three phases. Phase one took effect on January 19 and includes the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of 1900 prisoners in Israeli jails, and a temporary laydown of arms by both parties, during the 42 days of the first phase.

Hamas has so far released 16 of the 33 hostages in five rounds of swap.

Phase two of the truce aims to establish a more permanent agreement and secure the release of the remaining hostages and prisoners. However, Hamas's recent statement has cast doubt on the continuation of the agreement.