Israel Delays Palestinian Prisoner Release, Hamas Accuses Netanyahu of Sabotaging Ceasefire

Hamas slams Israel’s postponement of 620 prisoner releases, calling it a violation of the ceasefire deal as families wait in anguish.

Hamas has condemned Israel’s decision to postpone the release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners, rejecting Israel’s claim that the captives’ handover ceremonies are “humiliating” and calling it a pretext to evade obligations under the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision “reflects a deliberate attempt to disrupt the agreement, represents a blatant violation of its terms, and shows the occupation’s lack of reliability in implementing its obligations,” said Ezzat El Rashq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, in a statement on Sunday.

Israel delayed the scheduled Saturday release of 620 Palestinian prisoners, despite Hamas fulfilling its side of the ceasefire deal by freeing six Israeli captives from Gaza—the last group of living captives to be released under the agreement’s first phase.

Netanyahu, on Sunday, justified the delay, demanding that Hamas stop “humiliating ceremonies” when releasing Israeli captives—an additional condition not specified in the ceasefire deal. “In light of Hamas’ repeated violations – including the disgraceful ceremonies that dishonour our hostages and the cynical use of hostages for propaganda – it has been decided to delay the release of terrorists that was planned for yesterday [Saturday] until the release of the next hostages is ensured, without the humiliating ceremonies,” Netanyahu’s office stated.

Hamas dismissed Netanyahu’s claim, accusing him of “playing dirty games to sabotage and undermine” the deal. “The prisoner handover ceremony does not include any insult to them, but rather reflects the noble humane treatment of them,” Hamas said, urging mediating nations to hold Israel accountable for honoring the agreement’s terms.

Since the ceasefire began on January 19, Hamas has released 25 Israeli captives in staged handovers featuring masked fighters. The ceasefire agreement does not specify how captives and prisoners should be exchanged.

‘Netanyahu is Always Stalling’

Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh, reporting from Amman, Jordan, said Netanyahu’s decision contradicted the recommendations of Israel’s own security establishment. The delay has caused frustration and heartbreak among Palestinian families waiting for their loved ones’ release.

In Gaza and the occupied West Bank, relatives of the detainees waited for hours on Saturday with no response from Israeli authorities. The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society advocacy group said most of the 620 prisoners set for release were from Gaza and had been detained during the war.

“We have been sitting in our chairs waiting for many hours, but after many hours, nothing. But what else can we do?” said Khaled Khalil al-Jabarin, uncle of a detainee.

Shireen al-Hamamreh, sister of another prisoner, described the delay as “very difficult,” while Fatiha Abu Abdullah, a mother from Khan Younis, expressed frustration over Netanyahu’s stalling.

“God willing, they will be released soon,” she said.