JERUSALEM: Israel stated on Sunday (Feb 23) it was delaying the discharge of a whole bunch of Palestinian prisoners it had deliberate to free the day earlier than till militant group Hamas met its circumstances, underscoring the fragility of the Gaza ceasefire accord.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace launched a press release within the early hours of Sunday, saying that Israel was ready to ship the 620 Palestinian prisoners and detainees “till the discharge of the subsequent hostages has been assured, and with out the humiliating ceremonies“.
That was a reference to latest handovers by Hamas that UN officers have stated went in opposition to worldwide regulation as a result of they have been not respectful.
Hamas has made hostages seem on stage in entrance of crowds and typically communicate earlier than they have been handed over. Coffins with hostage stays have additionally been carried by means of crowds.
Israel’s announcement, which additionally accused Hamas of repeatedly violating the month-old ceasefire, got here after the Palestinian militant group on Saturday handed over six hostages from Gaza as a part of an alternate organized below the truce.
The six hostages freed on Saturday have been the final residing Israeli captives as a result of be handed over in the course of the first section of the ceasefire. The our bodies of 4 useless Israeli hostages have been to be launched subsequent week.
It was not clear if Israel wished assurances on that launch or different hostage releases.
After the six hostages arrived again in Israel, Hamas launched a video by which two different hostages, Eviatar David and Man Gilboa-Dalal, have been seen watching one of many handovers earlier on Saturday.
Hamas spokesperson Abdul Latif Al-Qanou earlier accused Israel of violating the ceasefire as Saturday elapsed with out the discharge of Palestinians as deliberate.
Israel and Hamas have continuously accused one another of violations for the reason that ceasefire began on Jan 19 but it surely has up to now continued to carry. Hamas at one stage stated it could cease handing over hostages due to alleged Israeli breaches.
Israelis Eliya Cohen, 27, Omer Shem Tov, 22, and Omer Wenkert, 23, all seized in Hamas’ Oct 7, 2023, assault on Israel, have been handed over on Saturday in central Gaza to the Pink Cross.
Dozens of militants stood guard in a crowd that had gathered to observe the handover, as masked Hamas males armed with automated rifles stood on either side of the three males, who appeared skinny and pale, as they have been made to wave from the stage.
Tal Shoham, 40, and Avera Mengistu, 39, have been earlier launched in southern Gaza.
Hamas rejected criticism of the handover occasions on Saturday, describing them as a solemn present of Palestinian unity. It handed over a sixth hostage, Hisham Al-Sayed, a 36-year-old Arab citizen of Israel, to the Pink Cross in Gaza Metropolis with out a public ceremony.
Al-Sayed and Mengistu had been held by Hamas since they entered Gaza of their very own accord round a decade in the past. Shoham was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri alongside along with his spouse and two kids, who have been freed in a short truce in November 2023.
Sixty-three extra captives, lower than half of whom are believed to be alive, stay in Gaza and are as a result of be launched below a three-phase ceasefire deal mediated by Qatar and Egypt.
Shem Tov embraced his dad and mom tightly, laughing and crying. “How I dreamt of this,” he stated in a video distributed by the Israeli navy.
