Israel delays Palestinian prisoner release as hostages freed | Global News Avenue

Israel said it delayed the release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners indefinitely amid another potential major setback in the ceasefire.

Benjamin Netanyahu said the release will be postponed until the next hostage transfer in Hamas – no Israeli Prime Minister in what the Israeli Prime Minister calls Hamas weekly A demotion ceremony held.

His comments were released on Saturday, including six Israeli hostages kidnapped in the deadly Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, four of which were kidnapped.

During the first phase of the ceasefire, there is only one hostage, which will involve four people being imprisoned.

There has been no arrangement to release other hostages of life in the second phase of the ceasefire.

Mediators will work overtime to get the deal back on track and avoid the potential collapse of the ceasefire.

Netanyahu accused Hamas of “repeated violations”, including “cynical hostages for propaganda purposes.”

In response, Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq strongly condemned the decision to postpone the release of prisoners in a statement Sunday morning.

Israel’s claim, he said, is that switching ritual humiliation is a “false claim and fragile argument” designed to evade its obligations under the ceasefire agreement.

Netanyahu’s statement is four hostages captured on October 7 – Tal Shoham, Omer Shem Tov, Elia · Statement by Eliya Cohen and Omer Wenkert and were released on Saturday.

Two other hostages released Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed held in Gaza for many years – Mr. MENGISTU has been in 2014 and since 2015 to come from 2015.

Israel’s six hostages are the last to be returned as part of the first phase of the ceasefire deal, which will end next Saturday.

Meanwhile, outside Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank, family and friends are waiting to release Palestinian prisoners.

An 80-year-old mother of Younis of Gaza Khan told AFP News that she “can’t believe” that her son will be free after 33 years in prison.

By night, Hamas accused Israel of violating the agreement by postponing its release.

According to the Palestinian authorities, 50 prisoners to be released serve their sentences, 60 have long sentences, and 445 have been sentenced to criminal penalties and 445 have been detained since October 7.

On October 7, 2023, there were still 62 hostages in Hamas, about half of which were considered alive.

After it came into effect on January 19, Hamas began releasing hostages promoted by the Red Cross in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

The initial chaotic scene became more carefully choreographed, with hostages surrounding fighters on the stage before handover.

Shoham, 40, and Mr Mengistu, 39, were transferred to the Red Cross in Rafa, southern Gaza, and then to the IDF on Saturday.

Mr. Shoham visited his family in October 2023 at Kibbutz Be’eri when he and others (including his wife and two children) were kidnapped by Hamas. 50 days later, his captured family members were released.

“It was an unforgettable moment, and all emotions quickly merged. Our Taal was with us,” his family said in a statement.

Mr. Mengistu is Ethiopian-Israeli, held by Hamas since crossing northern Gaza in September 2014.

According to their family, he and Al-Sayed, a Bedouin of Arab Israel, entered Gaza in 2015 and had had mental health problems in the past.

Mr. Al-Sayed’s release was held privately in Gaza City on Saturday.

“After nearly a decade of Hisham’s return to struggle, the long-awaited moment has come,” his family said in a statement.

“Over these days we need Hisham and the privacy of our entire family so that we can start taking care of Hisham and ourselves.”

In addition, Mr. Shem Tov, 22, and Mr. Wenkert, 23, were released in another public exhibition in Hamas in Nuseirat, central Gaza.

All three were captured at the Rising Star Music Festival.

Mr. Shem Tov was initially escaped by a car when the Hamas warrior landed at the festival, but was arrested when he went back to rescue his friend.

Mr. Cohen was hiding in the holiday shelter with his girlfriend Ziv Abud, but was found and driven away. The shelter was blown up, but Ms. Abud survived and escaped.

When festival tourists were attacked, Mr. Winkter managed to send text messages to his family telling them he was going to a safe shelter, but they lost contact with him.

The crowds at Lady Tel Aviv hostage square were released to the public as they watched the feed unfold on the scene.

The families celebrating the return of six people called for the release of all remaining hostages.

“Our only request is to seize the window of opportunity to ensure a deal that will return all hostages home,” Shoham’s family said.

The remaining hostages include 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander who was arrested on October 7.

His mother, Yael Alexander, is watching Saturday’s hostage release, told the BBC it was “amazing” to see them released, but for her family, it’s “Very tough” waiting.

“Like my son, there are still dozens of young people waiting for release,” she said. “This is the main goal and people on the scene are now released from Gaza.”

Saturday’s joyful scenes contrasted with earlier this week when the hostage’s body, Shiri Bibas, her two young sons and another captured Oded Lifschitz, returned to Israel.

About 1,200 people (mainly civilians) were killed in the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and another 251 were taken back to Gaza as hostages.

According to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, Israel launched a massive military campaign against Hamas, which killed at least 48,319 Palestinians (mainly civilians).