Hamas says next hostages to be released on Sunday, a day later than expected

A Hamas official said on Monday the Palestinian militant group would next release hostages on Sunday, a day later than expected under a complex ceasefire accord reached this month with Israel.

Nahed al-Fakhouri, head of the Hamas prisoners’ media office, said in a statement the names of hostages it would release would be provided on Saturday. Israel

would similarly disclose the names of prisoners to be released under the deal, he said.

“Based on these two lists, the actual implementation will be carried out on Sunday,” al-Fakhouri said.

Hamas had been expected to release four hostages on Saturday, coinciding with a release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

A senior Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said as far as Israel was concerned, the deadline for the next hostages to be released by Hamas was Saturday.

“This is the agreement and must be adhered to,” the official told Reuters.