Citing the "barbaric treatment" of Israeli captives by Hamas, the White House stated Monday that it supported Israel's decision to postpone the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners, according to Al Jazeera.

According to a statement from National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes, delaying the release of prisoners is an "appropriate response," as reported by Al Jazeera. US President Donald Trump said he is prepared to back Israel "whatever course of action it chooses regarding Hamas." According to Al Jazeera, two senior Hamas leaders have stated that the Palestinian organisation will not hold any talks with Israel through mediators until it frees the 620 Palestinian detainees scheduled to be released on Saturday. 

Hamas has announced that it has paused negotiations until Palestinian prisoners are released as promised. This comes as the Gaza truce talks face difficulties. Israel has delayed the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners, even though Hamas freed six Israeli captives. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised the way Hamas handed over the captives, calling it "humiliating" and accusing the group of using them for "propaganda." Meanwhile, aid organisations are questioning why Israel has not fulfilled its promises under the first phase of the ceasefire, according to Al Jazeera. 

The Palestinian Prisoner's Society claimed that Israel is engaging in "state terrorism against the prisoners and their families" after it disregarded its commitments to maintain a ceasefire in Gaza and release 620 prisoners, according to Al Jazeera. Egypt and Qatar are urging Israel to release the 620 Palestinian prisoners it had promised to free after Hamas released six captives from Gaza, according to Al Jazeera.

At the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu faced fresh criticism over the ongoing war in Gaza while addressing a military graduation ceremony. To illustrate "what we are fighting against," he displayed a photo of Shiri Bibas and her two young boys, Ariel and Kfir, whose bodies were returned from Gaza last week. The audience yelled, "Shame!" and "Why didn't you save them?" as reported by Al Jazeera. 

Meanwhile, Netanyahu threatened that Israel is "ready to return at any moment to intensive combat. The operational plans are ready," The Times of Israel reported. According to The Times of Israel, he repeatedly assured complete victory in his speech. "All of our hostages, without exception, will return home," he says. "Hamas won't rule Gaza. Gaza will be demilitarised, and its fighting force will be dismantled," said Netanyahu as quoted by The Times of Israel.