• Source:JND
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Israel has postponed the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, citing concerns over the "humiliating" conditions of previous handovers by Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the prisoners—who were scheduled to be freed on Sunday—will not be released until Israel secures guarantees regarding its remaining citizens held by Hamas.

"In light of the repeated violations by Hamas—including the ceremonies that demean our hostages and the cynical use of our hostages for propaganda purposes—it has been decided to delay the release of terrorists planned for yesterday until the next release of hostages is guaranteed, and without the degrading ceremonies," a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office read, as reported by the Times of Israel.

The release of 620 Palestinian prisoners had already been delayed for several hours and was initially scheduled to take place just after Hamas freed six Israeli hostages on Saturday. It was meant to be the largest single-day prisoner release in the first phase of the ongoing Gaza ceasefire. However, the decision to delay the release has now raised uncertainty about the future of the fragile truce.

Condemnation of Hostage Release Ceremonies

The latest hostage release sparked international criticism due to the manner in which it was conducted. Five of the six freed Israelis were escorted by masked, armed militants before a cheering crowd—a display that the United Nations and humanitarian groups have condemned as cruel and disrespectful. The Red Cross and Israeli officials have also denounced these staged handovers.

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Among those freed were three Israeli men who were abducted from the Nova music festival during the Hamas-led October 7 attack, as well as another individual who was taken while visiting family in southern Israel. The remaining two hostages had been held for a decade after crossing into Gaza on their own.

Tensions Over Misidentified Remains

The dispute between Israel and Hamas escalated further after a shocking incident involving the remains of Shiri Bibas, an Israeli mother kidnapped along with her two young sons. Hamas had initially handed over a body alongside her children’s remains, but Israeli authorities later determined that it belonged to an unidentified Palestinian woman.

The error prompted Netanyahu to vow retaliation, calling it a "cruel and malicious violation." Hamas, in turn, suggested that the mix-up was an unintentional mistake.

As tensions rise over the delays and ongoing disputes, the fate of the ceasefire remains uncertain. The postponement of the prisoner release could further complicate negotiations between Israel and Hamas, raising concerns over whether additional hostage exchanges will proceed as planned.

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