Israel said on Sunday it was delaying the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners it had planned to free the day before until militant group Hamas met its conditions, underscoring the fragility of the Gaza ceasefire accord.

Israel was supposed to release 620 Palestinian prisoners soon after the hostages were handed over. Officials gave no reason for the delay.

The Israeli prime minister's office said in the early hours of Sunday that the release of Palestinian prisoners planned for Saturday was delayed until the release of the next hostages is secured. Your trusted source for the latest news delivered weekdays from the team at U.

A lawyer for Luigi Mangione, the man accused of fatally gunning down U.S. health insurance executive Brian Thompson in December, told a judge Friday that her client was illegally searched during his arrest and she would seek to exclude that evidence from his trial on state murder and terrorism charges.

Hundreds of Palestinians supposed to be freed on Saturday are still in prison, which Hamas called a blatant breach of the Gaza cease-fire deal.

Hamas freed more hostages on Saturday in exchange for more than 600 Palestinian prisoners as part of the delicate ceasefire agreement with Israel.