Mustafa Barghouti, secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative, says Hamas’s announcement that it would indefinitely delay the release of the remaining Israeli captives is an unsurprising development but a source of concern.

“Of course we are worried about what might happen,” he told Al Jazeera.

Barghouti particularly singled out US President Donald Trump for undermining the Gaza truce agreement and noted Israel has repeatedly violated it, including by failing to provide the agreed upon humanitarian assistance, particularly shelters and tents.

“None of that happened and more than that, a lot of the humanitarian aid was obstructed by Israel,” Barghouti said.

Israeli forces continue to shoot at and kill people in Gaza, he noted, but Trump’s recent statements about the future of Gaza were the most crucial factor.

“What do they want? To get back all the Israeli prisoners and then continue the massacres in Gaza? This is exactly the message that Palestinians were getting.”