Updated Story: Israel Halts Prisoner Release, Ceasefire at Risk \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Israel has delayed the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners, citing concerns over Hamas’ staged handover ceremonies of Israeli hostages. The delay comes after six Israeli captives were freed on Saturday, some paraded by armed militants in a move Israel called humiliating and demeaning. Hamas accused Israel of violating the ceasefire deal, further threatening ongoing negotiations. Meanwhile, tensions rise as Israel and the U.S. push for the return of all hostages, while Hamas demands a permanent ceasefire.
Israel-Hamas Ceasefire & Hostage Exchange Quick Looks
- Prisoner Release Delayed: Israel halted the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners, citing Hamas’ use of hostage handover ceremonies for propaganda.
- Israel Condemns Hamas Videos: Israeli officials criticized footage of freed hostages being paraded by militants, calling it humiliating and exploitative.
- Hamas Accuses Israel of Violating Truce: Hamas says Netanyahu is deliberately stalling the exchange and breaking the ceasefire agreement.
- Hostages Freed Saturday: Six Israelis were released, including three men taken from the Nova music festival and two long-term captives held in Gaza for years.
- Bibas Family Controversy: Hamas handed over the wrong body for Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas, sparking outrage and accusations of deception.
- Ceasefire Uncertainty: Talks for a second phase of the truce remain unclear, with Hamas demanding a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
- Netanyahu Under Pressure: Families of hostages rallied in Tel Aviv, demanding the government secure the return of all captives.
- What’s Next? Hamas is expected to release four bodies in the coming days, marking the final step of the ceasefire’s first phase.
Deep Look
The delicate hostage-prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas hit a major setback on Saturday, as Israel abruptly halted the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners, citing Hamas’ use of hostage handover ceremonies for propaganda purposes.
This unexpected pause in the exchange comes at a critical juncture in the Gaza ceasefire’s first phase, raising concerns about whether the truce will hold or collapse in the coming days.
Why Did Israel Delay the Prisoner Release?
Israel’s decision to halt the prisoner release came just hours after Hamas freed six Israeli hostages—but did so in staged public ceremonies that the Israeli government and international organizations criticized as cruel and exploitative.
A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed the delay, saying:
“The release of Palestinian prisoners will not proceed until the next Israeli hostages have been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies seen at previous handovers.”
These concerns stem from recent Hamas videos showing hostages being paraded in front of armed militants, sometimes in forced celebratory gestures. One video featured three hostages posing alongside Hamas fighters, with one hostage kissing militants on the head and blowing kisses to the crowd—actions that experts believe were performed under duress.
Israeli officials also condemned a separate Hamas video, which showed two hostages still in captivity watching the handover of other captives. The footage, widely circulated on social media, was described as psychological warfare aimed at demoralizing families still awaiting their loved ones.
Hamas Accuses Israel of Violating the Ceasefire Deal
Hamas immediately responded to Israel’s decision, accusing the government of breaking the truce agreement.
Spokesperson Abdel Latif Al-Qanou said:
“Netanyahu is deliberately stalling the process, violating the agreement, and playing politics with the lives of Palestinian prisoners.”
The Palestinian Authority’s Commission for Prisoners’ Affairs confirmed that the release of the 620 prisoners is delayed “until further notice.”
Footage from the West Bank showed families of the expected prisoners, waiting for hours in freezing temperatures, slowly dispersing in disappointment. One woman was seen walking away in tears, carrying an empty bag she had brought to greet her relative.
Who Were the Hostages Released on Saturday?
The six Israeli hostages released on Saturday included:
- Three men abducted from the Nova music festival during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.
- One man visiting family in southern Israel when he was taken hostage.
- Two Israelis held captive for over a decade after entering Gaza on their own.
Among them:
- Omer Shem Tov, Eliya Cohen, and Omer Wenkert were shown in a Hamas ceremony wearing fake Israeli military uniforms and interacting with militants.
- Tal Shoham and Avera Mengistu were released earlier in the day. Mengistu, an Ethiopian-Israeli, had entered Gaza in 2014 and was believed to suffer from mental health issues.
- Hisham Al-Sayed, a Bedouin Israeli, was freed later in the day. His family said he was diagnosed with schizophrenia before his capture in Gaza in 2015.
Israeli officials have strongly condemned Hamas’ use of hostages for political theater, saying it undermines future negotiations.
The Fate of the Remaining Hostages and Next Steps in the Ceasefire
Saturday’s hostage release was supposed to mark the end of the ceasefire’s first phase, but there is still uncertainty over what comes next.
- Hamas has said it will release four more bodies next week, completing the first phase of the truce.
- More than 60 hostages remain in Gaza, with about half believed to be alive.
- Hamas demands a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza before releasing more captives.
- Netanyahu, backed by the U.S., insists Israel will not stop military operations until Hamas is destroyed and all hostages are returned.
With these two opposing positions, the next stage of ceasefire negotiations is expected to be far more difficult than the first.
The Bibas Family Tragedy and Growing Israeli Outrage
The delay in the prisoner exchange follows a week of intense anger in Israel over Hamas’ handling of hostage remains.
On Thursday, Hamas handed over the wrong body, claiming it was that of Shiri Bibas, an Israeli mother abducted with her two young sons. The remains were later identified as belonging to a Palestinian woman, a mistake that infuriated Israeli officials and citizens alike.
Netanyahu vowed revenge, calling the mix-up a “cruel and malicious violation”, while Hamas claimed it was an accident.
On Friday, Israeli forensic teams confirmed that the second body Hamas handed over was indeed Bibas. However, her two children remain missing, and Israeli intelligence claims Hamas militants killed them “with their bare hands”, a charge Hamas denies.
U.S. and Israel Push for All Hostages to Return
As talks over a possible second phase of the ceasefire loom, Netanyahu held a security meeting Saturday to discuss the fate of the remaining hostages.
An Israeli official, speaking anonymously, said the meeting would focus on “returning all our hostages, alive and dead.”
Meanwhile, families of hostages and their supporters gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, demanding that the government secure the return of every captive.
Naama Weinberg, cousin of deceased hostage Itay Svirsky, criticized Netanyahu directly, saying:
“How is it possible that President Trump and special envoy (Steven) Witkoff are more committed to the return of Israeli hostages than you are?”
The U.S. has continued to play a key role in negotiations, with the Biden administration supporting Israel’s military goals but also pushing for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.
What Happens Next?
- Israel has not announced when (or if) it will proceed with the Palestinian prisoner release.
- Hamas is expected to deliver four more bodies in the coming days, marking the final step in the ceasefire’s first phase.
- Ceasefire negotiations for a second phase will likely be more complex, as Hamas insists on a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza—a condition Netanyahu rejects outright.
For now, the truce remains fragile, and the future of the Israel-Hamas conflict remains uncertain as both sides navigate their next moves.
Updated Story: Israel Halts Updated Story: Israel Halts Updated Story: Israel Halts
