Israel said the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Gaza was delayed.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office's statement was local time earlier Sunday, when military vehicles, usually moving before a bus carrying prisoners, left the public gate of Ofer Prison, but turned around go back.
Release of 620 Palestinian prisoners has been delayed for several hours, which would have happened after this Six Israeli hostages Released on Saturday. It was originally the largest one-day prisoner release in the first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza.
Israel's announcement suddenly puts further doubt on the future of the truce.
The Palestinian Authority’s Prisoners Committee confirmed the delay “until further notice”. The Associated Press video on the West Bank shows the prisoner's family, waiting outdoors in near-frozen weather, apparently dispersed. A woman walked away in tears.
Five of the six hostages released on Saturday were accompanied by masked militants in front of the crowd – the United Nations and the Red Cross criticized as cruel after a previous handover.
Israel’s statement cites “rituals that devalue the dignity of our hostages and the cynical use of hostages to promote purpose.” It is likely a reference to Hamas video, showing two hostages who have not watched a handover and spoke under coercion on Saturday in Gaza.
The six are the last living hostage expected to be released during the first phase of the ceasefire, with one week remaining in the initial phase. The dialogue on the second phase of the ceasefire has not begun.
Six people, including three Israeli men seized from the Nova Music Festival, caused a 16-month war when they visited their families in southern Israel during a Hamas-led terrorist attack on October 7, 2023. Two other men were detained for ten years after entering Gaza alone.
The five people handed over at the stage ceremony. In one, Omer Wenkert, Omer Shem Tov and Eliya Cohen pose with the Hamas warriors. A brilliant Shem Tov, acted under coercion, kissed the heads of two militants and blew towards the crowd. They were wearing fake military uniforms, although they were not soldiers when they were kidnapped.
Cohen’s family and friends in Israel shouted, “Eliya! Eliya! Eliya!” cheered.
“You're a hero,” Shem Tov told his parents as he hugged and cried afterwards. “You don't know how much I dream about you,” his father, Malki Shem Tov, told public broadcaster Kan that his son was detained alone after the first 50 days, lost his losses 17 kg (37 lbs).
Tal Shoham, 40, and Avera Mengistu, 38, were released earlier on Saturday. Ethiopia – Israel's Mengistu entered Gaza in 2014. His family told Israeli media that he has been struggling with mental health issues. Israel – Austrian Shoham was taken from Kibbutz Be'eri. His wife and two children were released during the 2023 exchange.
Later, Israeli troops said Hisham al-Sayed, 36, was released. The Bedouin people of Israel entered Gaza in 2015. His family told Israeli media that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
The Israeli government did not answer questions about delays in the release of prisoners. Hamas accused Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement, and spokesman Abdel Latif al-Qanou accused Netanyahu of “deliberate stagnation.”
When Hamas handed over the wrong body on Thursday, the hostage release came after a seductive dispute Shiri Bibasan Israeli mother kidnapped with her two little boys. These remains were identified as the remains of Palestinian women. Netanyahu vows to avenge his revenge for “cruel and malicious violations.” Hamas thinks this is a mistake.
Israeli forensic authorities confirmed that the body handed over to Friday was Bibas. Dr. Chen Kugel, head of the National Forensic Institute, said they did not find Bibas, whose child was killed in an Israeli air strike, as Hamas said. Kugel didn't ask for a reason.
Hamas denied Israeli military claims based on forensic evidence and unspecified “intelligence” that militants killed children with their bare hands, “called it a lie, aimed at proving Israel’s civilians against Gaza Defense of military operations.
