Israel delays Palestinian prisoner release as Netanyahu holds security consultations
Palestinians released by Israel during the 5th round of prisoner-hostage swap between Hamas and Israel, return to their families after taken by the International Committee of the Red Cross' buses, in Ramallah, West Bank on February 8, 2025. (AA Photo)
Israel will postpone the release of Palestinian prisoners included in the seventh batch of the exchange deal until after security consultations led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s broadcasting authority KAN reported Saturday.
The security consultations will be on negotiations for the second phase of the Gaza cease-fire agreement, said the broadcaster.
Citing the Israeli Prison Service, the daily Israel Hayom reported that the political leadership has not yet issued instructions for the release of the Palestinian prisoners in the current batch.
Hamas reportedly delivers wrong body
Meanwhile, Israel reportedly suspended the release of Palestinian prisoners Saturday in the seventh batch in a cease-fire and prisoner exchange deal in the Gaza Strip, citing Hamas’ delivery of a wrong body instead of detained Israeli Shiri Bibas on Thursday.
According to Israeli public broadcaster KAN, Israeli officials said the government decided to halt the release after Hamas handed over the body of a Palestinian woman in place of Bibas.
KAN later said the Palestinian prisoners would be released in the late hours of the night “based on recommendations from the Israeli political leadership.”
Israel received four bodies Thursday as part of the exchange. The Israeli Forensic Institute confirmed three belonged to Oded Lifshitz, Kfir Bibas and Ariel Bibas, as agreed. The fourth body, however, did not belong to Shiri Bibas.
The Hamas-affiliated Prisoners’ Information Office accused Israel of delaying the release, saying: “There has been a delay and excesses by the occupation regarding the release of the prisoners.”
Hamas prepared to release all Israeli prisoners
Nahed Al-Fakhouri, an official from the Hamas prisoners’ office, said in a statement: “The occupation assaulted the prisoners prior to their release, and is attempting to manipulate some of the names of the prisoners scheduled for release.”
Al-Fakhouri also confirmed that Hamas is prepared to release all Israeli prisoners in exchange for the release of all Palestinian prisoners.
Israel’s official broadcasting authority said that Netanyahu will conduct security consultations on Saturday evening regarding the commencement of the second phase of the Gaza agreement negotiations.
Netanyahu’s government continues to stall the negotiations that were initially scheduled to begin on Feb. 3.
Israeli authorities are set to release 620 Palestinian prisoners on Saturday as part of the seventh batch of the first phase in the prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel.
Earlier in the day, the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, handed over six Israeli captives to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Rafah, Nuseirat, and Gaza City.
The cease-fire deal took effect last month, halting Israel’s genocidal war, which has killed more than 48,300 people, mostly women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
