Hamas says Israel evading ceasefire obligations as Netanyahu delays release of 600 Palestinians
The families of some 600 prisoners remain in limbo after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Saturday that he would delay their release, a decision that violated the exchange terms of the ceasefire agreement after Hamas had earlier released six Israeli hostages.
The families of some 600 prisoners remain in limbo after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Saturday that he would delay their release, a decision that violated the exchange terms of the ceasefire agreement after Hamas had earlier released six Israeli hostages.
Netanyahu cited “Hamas’s repeated violations, including the ceremonies that humiliate our hostages and the cynical exploitation of our hostages for propaganda purposes” in announcing the delay.
Hamas has been criticized for conducting heavily choreographed ceremonies each time it released hostages back to Israel.
Netanyahu said he would not free this batch of Palestinian prisoners and detainees “until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies.”
A member of the International Red Cross walks with Hamas fighters at the site of the release of two Israeli hostages in Rafah on Saturday.OMAR AL-QATTAA / AFP - Getty ImagesThere are 63 hostages remaining in Gaza, according to the Israeli prime minister’s office, 27 of whom are presumed alive. No arrangements have yet been made for their release.
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