West Jerusalem has accused Hamas of parading the detainees in front of crowds for propaganda purposes
Israel has postponed the release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners, accusing Hamas of conducting ‘humiliating’ ceremonies during hostage handovers in a move which has been seen as a challenge to the ceasefire agreement.
Israel had originally planned to release 620 Palestinians after Hamas freed six Israeli hostages on Saturday. But West Jerusalem has expressed discontent with the practice of masked members of the group parading Israeli prisoners in front of crowds.
In a statement on Sunday, the Office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of “repeated violations” of the ceasefire agreement, “including the ceremonies that humiliate our hostages and the cynical exploitation of our hostages for propaganda purposes.”
In light of this, the office added, “it has been decided to delay the release of terrorists that was planned for yesterday until the release of the next hostages has been assured and without the humiliating ceremonies.”
As a result, while the Palestinian captives have already reportedly boarded buses to leave Israel’s Ofer prison in the West Bank, they were ordered to disembark, with questions lingering about whether the landmark ceasefire between Hamas and the Jewish state, which had the exchange as one of its key points, would hold.
In response, Ezzat El Rashq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, accused Netanyahu of a “deliberate attempt to disrupt the agreement.” The delay, he added, “represents a clear violation of [the agreement’s] terms, and shows the occupation’s lack of reliability in implementing its obligations.” Officials from the militant group also insist that the release ceremonies are being conducted with dignity.
The current ceasefire, brokered by the US, Qatar, and Egypt, was established in mid-January after 15 months of intense conflict that resulted in significant casualties and widespread destruction in Gaza. The agreement includes provisions for the step-by-step exchange of hostages and prisoners, as well as the facilitation of humanitarian aid into the region, and should result in Israel’s withdrawal from the enclave.
