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Hamas released six Israeli hostages on Saturday, but Israel delayed the scheduled release of over 600 Palestinian prisoners in response. This unexpected hold-up has placed further strain on the fragile ceasefire agreement, which has been in place for the past five weeks.
The Israeli government stated that the release of Palestinian prisoners would be postponed until after a meeting of the security cabinet, scheduled for Saturday evening at the earliest.
Ceasefire Agreement at Risk
The delay has raised concerns about the stability of the truce, which is currently in a delicate transitional phase. The first phase of the ceasefire is set to conclude next Saturday, but negotiations on the second phase have yet to begin.
Hamas spokesperson Abdel Latif al-Qanou criticized Israel’s decision, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of engaging in “procrastination and stalling tactics.”
“The [Israeli] occupation’s failure to comply with the release of the seventh batch of prisoners in the exchange deal at the agreed-upon time constitutes a blatant violation of the agreement,” said al-Qanou.
Diverging Opinions Within Israel
While many Israelis prioritize securing the release of the remaining hostages, there is significant opposition within Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition. Hardliners within his government advocate for resuming military action with the goal of completely eliminating Hamas.
Hostages Released by Hamas
Among the hostages freed by Hamas were two men who had been held captive for nearly a decade. One of them, Avera Mengistu, a 39-year-old Ethiopian-born Israeli, crossed into Gaza in September 2014.
“Our family has endured 10 years and five months of unimaginable suffering. During this time, there have been continuous efforts to secure his return, with prayers and pleas, some silent, that remained unanswered until today,” his family said in a statement.
The second long-term captive was Hisham al-Sayed, a 36-year-old Bedouin man from the Negev desert. He wandered into Gaza in April 2015 and was detained by Hamas.
His father, Shaaban, questioned why his son was ever held, saying, “Why were they holding someone like that who did nothing wrong? He’s a man of peace, a man who wanted to reach Gaza. He loves Gaza, he did not go there as an aggressor. This was more painful for us than everything else.”
Controversial Hostage Release Ceremonies
Five of the Israeli hostages released on Saturday were handed over in public ceremonies, which Hamas has been accused of using as propaganda. These events have been condemned by the Red Cross as disrespectful and inhumane.
During one ceremony, hostages Omer Wenkert, Omer Shem Tov, and Eliya Cohen were made to stand next to armed and masked Hamas fighters in front of a large propaganda poster. In a surprising moment, Shem Tov was seen kissing two militants on the head and blowing kisses to the crowd.
Details of the Prisoner Exchange Deal
Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, Israel was supposed to release 602 Palestinian prisoners. Of these, 445 were captured in Gaza during the current conflict and were set to be freed inside the strip. The remaining 157 were either to be deported or transferred to the West Bank, with 50 of them serving life sentences.
The head of Israel’s prison service, Kobi Yakobi, has been accused of politicizing the exchange process. Last week, Palestinian prisoners were forced to wear T-shirts that read, “We will not forget and we will not forgive.” On Saturday, Yakobi reportedly prepared sweatshirts for the prisoners with the message: “I will pursue my enemies and overtake them, and I will not return until they are destroyed.” Bracelets inscribed with “The eternal people do not forget. I will pursue my enemies and overtake them” were also distributed.
Ongoing Efforts for Further Hostage Releases
The release of the six hostages on Saturday brings the total number of Israelis freed under the ceasefire’s first phase to 25. Hamas has also returned the bodies of four hostages killed during the conflict and is expected to hand over four more in the coming week.
Among those returned on Thursday were the remains of Ariel Bibas, 4, and his baby brother Kfir, who was just nine months old. The two children, along with their mother, Shiri Bibas, were abducted during Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel’s western Negev region on October 7, 2023. The incident further inflamed tensions when Hamas mistakenly transferred the body of an unidentified woman, presumed to be Palestinian, before handing over Bibas’s remains. The mistake caused outrage in Israel.
International Reactions and Next Steps
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has urged both parties to move toward the second phase of the ceasefire deal. This phase would involve securing the release of the remaining 60 or so Israeli hostages—at least half of whom are believed to be dead—along with hundreds more Palestinian prisoners and detainees. A complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza is also being considered as part of this phase.
However, former US President Donald Trump has voiced strong support for Netanyahu should he decide to resume military action. Trump referenced the Bibas family’s case as justification for further conflict.
“He is not torn. He wants to go in,” Trump told Fox News Radio on Friday. “He is just so angry at what happened yesterday and he should be.”
