Israel suspended the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners, denouncing the way in which Hamas orchestrated the release of Israeli hostages.
The government of Benjamin Netanyahu accuses the Palestinian movement of having staged farewells imbued with camaraderie between the captives and their jailers, which aroused lively indignation in Israel.
“These humiliating ceremonies, where our hostages appear to kiss their captors, are an insult to their suffering and cynical exploitation for propaganda purposes,” said the Prime Minister’s office.
As long as Hamas does not end these staging, Israel refuses to release the Palestinian detainees planned as part of the ceasefire. Hamas immediately reacted, accusing Netanyahu of seeking a pretext to torpedo the agreement.
“We have respected our commitments, but Israel plays a dangerous game to sabotage the Truce,” said Basem Naim, a senior movement official. On Saturday, Hamas released six Israeli hostages, closing the first phase of the exchange.
However, the dissemination of images showing some of them exchanging hugs with Hamas fighters caused an uproar in Israel, perceived as a national humiliation.
Meanwhile, in the West Bank and Gaza, the Palestinian families waited in vain for the release of the prisoners. “We have hoped, expected for hours … and finally nothing,” says Khaled Khalil al-Jabarin, uncle of an inmate, reports Al Jazeera. In Khan Younès, Fatiha Abu Abdullah deplores: “Our sons were to be released today, but Netanyahu only delayed things. »»
