Israel delays release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners

Israel says it’s delaying the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners until the “release of next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies” at handovers of Israeli captives in Gaza.

The statement came from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office early on Sunday. Military vehicles that normally move in advance of the buses carrying prisoners left the open gates of Ofer prison, only to turn around and go back in.

The release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners has been delayed for several hours. It was meant to occur directly after six Israeli hostages were released by Hamas on Saturday in what was meant to be the largest one-day prisoner release in the ceasefire’s first phase.

Israel’s abrupt decision to delay the prisoners’ release “until further notice” puts an already fragile truce into further doubt.

Five of the six hostages freed from Gaza on Saturday were escorted by masked and armed militants in front of large crowds. International organisations like the United Nations and the Red Cross have criticised the display, calling it cruel.

The Israeli statement added that “ceremonies that demean the dignity of our hostages and the cynical use of the hostages for propaganda purposes” as one of the reasons behind the delay.

The six hostages released by Hamas on Saturday were the last living hostages expected to be freed under the US, Qatar and Egypt co-brokered ceasefire agreement’s first phase. Talks on the second phase are yet to start.

What’s next?

The ceasefire deal has paused the deadliest and most devastating fighting ever between Israel and Hamas. There are now fears that the war will resume as negotiations on the second phase of the truce.

Hamas said it will release four bodies next week to successfully complete its part in the first phase of the ceasefire of releasing at least 33 hostages. The group will still hold over 60 hostages, with as many as half of them believed to be alive.

The second phase of the ceasefire will see Hamas release all the remaining captives in exchange for hundreds more Palestinian prisoners. The second phase is also meant to offer a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and bring about a permanent end to the fighting.

Hamas says it is ready to move to the second phase but has stressed that it will not release the remaining captives without guarantees from Israel that it will also commit to its end of the deal.

Netanyahu, with the backing of US President Donald Trump’s administration says he’s committed to destroying Hamas’ military and governing capacities and returning all hostages.

An Israeli official told the Associated Press that Netanyahu would meet with security advisers on Saturday evening to discuss the future of the truce.

Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Approximately 90% of Gaza’s 2.1 million population was also displaced, some multiple times.

The offensive has destroyed most of the enclave’s infrastructure and buildings. The UN previously said it would take Gaza decades to rebuild and recover.

Israel’s war on Gaza was in response to Hamas’ attack on 7 October 2023, which killed about 1,200 people.