Hamas on Sunday condemned Israel's decision to postpone the release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, saying its claim that the hostages' handover ceremonies are "humiliating" was false and a pretext to evade Israel's obligations under the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

The six Israelis were the last living captives set to be released in the first phase of the cease-fire. The agreement, strained for weeks, has an uncertain future.

In what was set to be the largest swap under January’s ceasefire agreement, six hostages were freed, but the release of some 600 Palestinian prisoners was delayed. It comes after Shiri Bibas’s body was returned by Hamas.