Israel has announced a delay in the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners, stating that the move will remain in effect until assurances are given that the next group of Israeli hostages will be freed without facing “humiliation.” The decision was made in light of Hamas’s repeated violations, including holding ceremonies designed to humiliate Israeli hostages and using them for propaganda purposes.
The Prime Minister’s Office of Israel issued a statement saying, “In light of Hamas’s repeated violations, including the ceremonies that humiliate our hostages and the cynical exploitation of our hostages for propaganda purposes…it has been decided to delay the release of terrorists that was planned for yesterday until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies.”
The decision follows the release of six Israeli hostages from Gaza by Hamas on Saturday, which included two public ceremonies and one private transfer. This marked the conclusion of the first phase of a ceasefire deal that began last month. In return for these releases, Israel was expected to free 620 Palestinian prisoners, including 23 children and one woman. However, the release of the prisoners was postponed as Israeli officials carried out additional security reviews.
The announcement follows outrage after the remains of the Bibas brothers—Ariel (4 years old) and Kfir (10 months)—were returned to Israel. The brothers were reportedly killed by Hamas, with their remains subjected to a public display before being sent back to Israel. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the actions, calling the display “cold-blooded.”
Similar scenes were witnessed on Saturday when two Israeli hostages, Tal Shoham and Avera Mengistu, were released by Hamas, with large crowds gathering to watch the handover of the hostages, as shown in a video shared by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Israeli officials had previously stated that forensic reports confirmed the Bibas brothers were killed by Hamas shortly after being captured, with the bodies showing signs of being murdered with “bare hands.” The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) alleged that Hamas attempted to cover up their actions.
The remains of Shiri Bibas, the boys’ mother, were also returned by Hamas, but forensic tests revealed that the remains initially provided were not hers. This discrepancy sparked further condemnation until Israeli authorities confirmed the return of Shiri Bibas’s remains, which were verified by her family.
As of now, Israel is still awaiting the release of additional hostages, and the situation remains tense as the two sides navigate the complexities of the ongoing conflict.