Netanyahu delays Palestinian prisoner release over ‘humiliating ceremonies’

The 602 Palestinian prisoners due to be released yesterday were returned to their cells instead, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that their release was to be delayed “ in light of Hamas’s repeated violations, including the ceremonies that humiliate our hostages and the cynical exploitation of our hostages for propaganda purposes.”

The statement came as buses apparently carrying prisoners left Ofer prison in the West Bank, then turned around and returned.

The announcement came after the release of six hostages. One, Omer Shem Tov was forced to kiss two of his Hamas captors, on stage. Two other hostages, Evyatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal  were videoed watching the scene from a nearby car and were forced to beg for their freedom. 

Evyatar and Guy are childhood friends who were kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7.

“They forced them to watch their friends being released and then returned them to the tunnels, there is nothing more cruel than that,” Ilan Dalal, Guy Gilboa-Dalal’s father, told Israel’s Channel 12 News. “This shows the most urgent need to get them out of there. They cannot continue to go through this, it’s simply inhuman.” 

Regarding his decision to allow publication of the footage of the incident released by Hamas, he said: “There was no hesitation, I immediately gave permission, I wanted people to see and understand the need to get them out. Maybe those who oppose the deal will change their minds. Let them see what they’re going through there.”

David’s sister, Yeela, called Hamas “monsters” after watching the video. She said on Instagram: “They are alive. [Hamas] put both of them this morning in the most horrifying and evil situation they could be. There is no limit to the messed-up cynicism of these monsters. I admire you, my brothers.”

The three hostages, Omer Shem Tov, Eliya Cohen and Omer Wenkert are paraded on stage by Hamas gunmen (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP) (Photo by EYAD BABA/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images

Netanyahu said: “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,”  according to an English translation provided by his office.

Israel was set to release 602 Palestinian terrorists on Saturday, including 50 serving life sentences, 60 serving long terms and 47 who were re-arrested after the 2011 swap for captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

Palestinian families react after Israel delayed the release of Palestinian prisoners, scheduled to be released in the seventh hostage-prisoner exchange. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on February 23 that freeing Palestinian prisoners under the Gaza ceasefire deal will be delayed until Hamas ends "humiliating ceremonies" it holds while handing over Israeli hostages. Israeli authorities had delayed the release of Palestinian prisoners due Saturday in exchange for six hostages freed from Gaza, prompting Palestinian militant group Hamas to accuse Israel of a "blatant violation" of the truce deal. (Photo by Mohammad Nazal / Middle East Image / Middle East Images via AFP) (Photo by MOHAMMAD NAZAL/Middle East Image/AFP via Getty Images)Middle East Image/AFP via Getty

Hamas is due to return four additional bodies to Israel next Thursday, in what would be the final exchange of Phase 1 of the ceasefire agreement that took effect on January 19 and is due to end on March 1.

On Friday, Netanyahu eulogised the slain hostages returned the previous day – octogenarian Oded Lifshitz and children Kfir and Ariel Bibas – and condemned Hamas for failing to return the body of their mother Shiri Bibas, after Hamas put another Palestinian woman’s body in her coffin. 

“In an unspeakably cynical manner, [Hamas] did not return Shiri to her little children, the little angels, and they put the body of a Gazan woman in a coffin,” said Netanyahu in a video message to the nation.  Shiri Bibas’s body was returned to Israel late on Friday. Israel said that she had been murdered in captivity. 

“We will work resolutely to bring Shiri home together with all our abductees—both living and dead—and ensure that Hamas pays the full price for this cruel and evil violation of the agreement. The sacred memory of Oded Lipshitz and Ariel and Kfir Bibas will be forever enshrined in the heart of the nation. God will avenge their blood,” said Netanyahu on Friday. 

Late last month, Netanyahu condemned a crowd of Gazans that mobbed three Israeli captives as they were being transferred to Red Cross officials in Gaza.

“I view the shocking scenes during the release of our hostages as very serious,” wrote Netanyahu after the release of Arbel Yehud, Gadi Mozes, Agam Berger and five Thai citizens, all of whom were abducted on October 7, 2023.

“This is further proof of the unimaginable cruelty of the Hamas terrorist organisation. I demand that the mediators ensure that such horrific scenes do not recur, and guarantee the safety of our hostages. Those who dare harm our hostages do so at their own peril,” wrote Netanyahu.