Hamas released six Israeli hostages on Saturday as part of an ongoing ceasefire agreement, while Israel was scheduled to free over 600 Palestinian detainees in return.
However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a suspension of the planned Palestinian prisoner release, citing what he termed a "humiliating ceremony" during the handover of the hostages, reports AFP.
In a late-night statement, Netanyahu accused Hamas of repeatedly violating the truce terms and using the hostages for propaganda. "Due to the disgraceful manner in which our hostages were handed over—subjected to public humiliation and forced to participate in a shameful spectacle—we have decided that no Palestinian prisoners scheduled for release on Saturday will be freed until future exchanges occur without such demeaning displays," he said.
The latest exchange, the seventh round of the ongoing hostage swap, took place at the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, where Hamas fighters and civilians, including children, had gathered.
Since the ceasefire began on 19 January, Hamas has freed 25 Israeli hostages, each time staging ceremonial releases in which armed Hamas members escorted them onto a platform before an assembled crowd. Hostages were seen waving at onlookers and making brief statements.
Prior to this, Hamas had handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages on Thursday. However, the remains of Shiri Bibas were mistakenly swapped with those of another individual, sparking outrage in Israel. The error was corrected the following day, and forensic examinations later confirmed the identity of Bibas' remains.
Despite mounting tensions, a Hamas spokesperson reiterated the group's willingness to release all remaining Israeli hostages in a single exchange, provided the agreed conditions were met. He also reaffirmed Hamas’ commitment to the full implementation of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.
The current truce, structured in three phases, spans 42 days and stipulates the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. However, analysts suggest Netanyahu may be reluctant to proceed with the second phase, as his far-right coalition partners are pressuring him to resume military operations in Gaza, particularly after the release of most surviving hostages.
