Hamas says talks with Israel about further steps in the Gaza ceasefire deal are conditional on Palestinian prisoners being freed as agreed. Israel said on Sunday it was delaying the release of more than 600 Palestinians in return for six living and four dead hostages who had been freed,

Hamas has said that it will only continue ceasefire talks with Israel if Palestinian prisoners are released as part of the earlier truce deal. This comes after Israel delayed the release of 600 Palestinian prisoners on Sunday.

Steve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy for the Middle East, said he is heading to the region this week to meet with other mediators from the ceasefire to work out the details of getting the next phase