Middle East: Hamas, consequences for hostages from attempt to delay agreement

Tel Aviv, Mar. 2 (LaPresse) – Hamas warned that any attempt to delay or cancel the current ceasefire agreement would have ‘humanitarian consequences’ for the hostages and reiterated that the only way to free them was to implement the agreement and negotiate Phase 2. Hamas said it was willing to release all remaining hostages at once in Phase 2, but only in exchange for the release of other Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces.