Relatives and friends of the 240 seized by the terror group had gathered in a plaza in Tel Aviv, known as Hostages Square,
for the anticipated freeing of women and children, only to be left devastated while further negotiations were held.
This was in stark contrast to the joyous scenes when the first 13 hostages released on Friday were reunited with relatives.
The second group of released hostages had been due to be returned yesterday afternoon but Hamas claimed that promised aid had not arrived in northern Gaza.
It also said the terms of the release of Palestine prisoners, three for each Israeli, had not been adhered to. It was also claimed Israel had violated the ceasefire deal by flying drones over southern Gaza.
Hope was restored as a spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Majed Al-Ansari, said last night the “obstacles were overcome” and hostages would be freed along with a further seven civilians.
The setback on the second day of a temporary truce came as videos and photos were released yesterday of children, mothers and grandmothers hugging relatives following 49 days in captivity.
Ohad Munder, who turned nine while being held, was seen running down a hospital corridor before being swept up in his father’s arms.
He had earlier been photographed with a masked Hamas fighter as he and his teacher and volleyball coach mother Keren Munder, 55, and grandmother Ruth Munder, 78, were handed over by Red Cross officials.
Ruth’s husband Avraham remains in Gaza while Keren’s brother Roee was murdered in the Hamas attack.
Ohad’s brother Roi said in a statement: “We’re happy, but we’re not celebrating, because there are other hostages in captivity. Don’t lose hope, they’ll be back soon.”
After 49 days in captivity Doron Asher, 34, and her daughters Raz, 4, and Aviv, 2, were held tight by husband and father Yoni.
Raz told him: “I dreamt we went home”. The trio hid in Doron’s mother’s house in Kibbutz Nir Oz. She was murdered.
Hamas had kidnapped 80, or a quarter of the kibbutz’s residents, including Emilia Aloni, 5, who was hugged by her gran after being freed with her mother Danielle.
The pair had been visiting Danielle’s sister Sharon Cunio at the same kibbutz.
Sharon, husband David and their three-year-old twin girls Yuri and Emma are still being held in Gaza.
And Yaffa Adar, 85, was reunited with her family after last being seen in a video taken by Hamas terrorists as she was driven from Nir Oz into Gaza in a golf buggy. Adina Moshe, 72, who was kept in “complete darkness” during her captivity was unaware her husband had been murdered.
Chana Katzir, 76, only learnt her husband Rami had been killed and her son Elad seized on her release, suggesting families were kept apart.
Hamas was to free at least 50 hostages during the four-day truce, which can be extended for every additional 10 freed.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt Gen Herzi Halevi has told soldiers the military will immediately return to striking Gaza Strip once the ceasefire with Hamas ends, to pile up pressure to release all of the hostages.
Yesterday more humanitarian aid flowed into Gaza as the 2.3 million civilians had a second day of respite. The UN agency for Palestinians said its facilities are housing a million displaced people.
Yesterday 200 trucks, and four tankers of cooking gas and four of diesel, arrived.
A long queue carrying empty canisters quickly formed outside a filling station in the southern city of Khan Yunis.
Meanwhile, the position of Israel’s premier Benjamin Netanyahu’s remained precarious last night. While he is intent on staying on to see the end of Hamas, he is planning his exit strategy, it has emerged.
This includes settling a litany of charges hanging over him.
