Hamas claims Israel broke the ceasefire deal - Here's what we know

In the latest development of the ongoing hostage exchange deal between Israel and Hamas, tension has emerged over the release of prisoners, potentially complicating the next phase of exchanges scheduled for Saturday.

Hamas's Prisoner Information Office claimed Monday morning that Israel failed to release one female Palestinian prisoner who was supposed to be included in the latest exchange. This came after Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners overnight in exchange for three Israeli hostages - Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher.

"Technical teams are in communication with mediators and the Red Cross to pressure Israel to comply with the agreed-upon list of prisoners," Hamas officials stated, according to reports from Ynet.

The prisoner release operation, dubbed "Derech Eretz" by Israeli authorities, involved a coordinated effort between the Israel Prison Service's Nachshon unit and the Israeli Police. Prisoners were transferred from various detention facilities to Ofer Prison before their release.

In Beitunia, a Palestinian town near the prison, crowds gathered to welcome the released prisoners with celebratory dances, openly praising Hamas.

The hostage exchange is part of a broader ceasefire agreement that followed intense diplomatic efforts, including involvement from US President-elect Donald Trump's administration. Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, reportedly played a crucial role in the negotiations, particularly in discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The agreement is structured in three phases over 42 days, with yesterday's exchange marking the beginning of the first phase. During this initial stage, 33 hostages are expected to be released in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The deal comes after a previous successful exchange in late November 2023 when 105 civilians were freed.

94 Israelis are believed to remain in Gaza, including at least 34 confirmed deceased by the IDF. The fate of the remaining hostages is expected to be addressed in the deal's subsequent phases, though Netanyahu has referred to the current arrangement as a "temporary ceasefire," suggesting uncertainty about the implementation of future stages.

According to reports from the Wall Street Journal, Trump's involvement included implicit pressure on both Hamas and Netanyahu, with the President-elect warning of "hell to pay" if the hostages were not released before his January 20 inauguration. His incoming national security adviser, Mike Waltz, has reportedly assured hostages' families that the Trump administration will oversee the implementation of all phases of the agreement.

Looking ahead to Saturday, Qatar is expected to mediate the next phase of exchanges. The upcoming list reportedly includes two civilians and five female military observers: Arbel Yahud, Shiri Bibas, Karina Ariev, Liri Albag, Daniela Gilboa, Naama Levy, and Agam Berger.

This latest dispute over the prisoner release threatens to complicate an already delicate ceasefire agreement.

The Times of Israel contributed to this article.