Israel said early Sunday that it was delaying the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners who had been slated to go free Saturday until Jerusalem receives assurances regarding the end of “humiliating ceremonies” staged by Hamas when hostages are handed over.

The statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office came after over 600 inmates had reportedly already boarded buses to leave Ofer prison, in the largest single-day release of the first stage of the ongoing Gaza ceasefire. Instead, the inmates were told to disembark, their release on indefinite hold.

The grandson of Israeli hostage Oded Lifschitz, 84, whose body was returned from Gaza to Israel this week, has spoken to the BBC.

Daniel Lifschitz criticised Hamas for kidnapping a great-grandfather, saying Oded died in "poor conditions, without food, without medication".

He described his grandfather as "a warrior of peace" and said "a generation of education" free from Hamas was needed in order to bring progress towards peace in the region...

The body of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas was not among the four returned by Hamas from Gaza on Thursday, Israel’s military has said, accusing the Palestinian militant group of a “violation of utmost severity” of the precarious ceasefire deal.

Hamas said it will investigate Israel’s claims, insisting that it intends to abide by the terms of the ceasefire deal reached with Israel.

"The hearts of an entire nation lie in tatters," Israel's president has said, as the bodies of four hostages taken alive by Hamas in its attack on 7 October 2023 were returned to Tel Aviv.

Hamas says the bodies are those of a mother and two children from the Bibas family, whose unknown fate has gripped Israel, and Oded Lifschitz, 84, a veteran peace activist.

President Isaac Herzog wrote "there are no words" in a post on social media platform X, asking the four for forgiveness "for not bringing you home safely".

Hamas said Thursday it would release the next group of Israeli hostages as planned, apparently resolving a major dispute that threatened the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The militant group said Egyptian and Qatari mediators have affirmed they will work to "remove all hurdles," and it would implement the ceasefire deal.

Hamas said Tuesday that US President Donald Trump’s demand that the terror group release all its hostages by noon Saturday — or “all bets are off” — “further complicates matters” relating to the fragile Gaza truce, after the terror group announced Monday that it would delay the next scheduled hostage release over alleged Israeli violations of the deal.

“Trump must remember that there is an agreement that must be respected by both parties and this is the only way to return the prisoners,” Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told AFP, referring to the hostages.

President Trump issued an ultimatum on Monday to Hamas, saying that if all remaining Israeli hostages are not released from Gaza by noon on Saturday, then "all hell is going to break loose." 

Asked by reporters for details on what that meant, Mr. Trump initially responded: "You'll find out, and they'll find out, too. Hamas will find out what I mean." 

After a fresh batch of executive orders from the Oval Office Monday night, President Donald Trump said that the hostages still being held by Hamas must be returned by Saturday at 12 o’clock or the ceasefire deal should be canceled and all hell will break loose.  

When asked what that means he responded, “they’ll find out.” 

Remarking on the reality of the crisis he said that he believes a lot of them are dead already. 

When asked if he would commit U.S. troops he did not commit. 

President Donald Trump set a deadline for the release of all the Hamas-held hostages in Gaza – Saturday at noon – warning that if they are not freed, "All bets are off."

Trump's ultimatum followed a Hamas announcement that it was ending the ceasefire agreement.

The president addressed reporters from the Oval Office Monday afternoon, delivering a clear message regarding the hostage situation.

President Donald Trump said if Hamas does not return all hostages by noon on Saturday, he will call for the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to be canceled and "let all hell break out." 

Trump made the comments after signing executive orders in the Oval Office Monday evening. 

When asked if he felt the ceasefire deal should be canceled, the president said that is "Israel’s decision."