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.

This is part of the first phase of the ceasefire deal, which stipulates that a total of 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees being held in Israeli prisons would be released in return for 33 Israeli hostages. More than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners have been freed since the first phase of the three-phase deal began on 19 January.