Hamas yesterday said Israel has gravely endangered a five-week-old truce in the Gaza Strip by delaying the release of Palestinian prisoners under the deal because of the manner it has freed Israeli hostages.
The first phase of the truce ends early next month and details of a planned subsequent phase have not been agreed.
With tensions again hanging over the deal — which halted more than 15 months of war — Israel yesterday announced an expansion of military operations in the occupied West Bank.
Photo: AFP
The military said a tank division would be sent in to the West Bank city of Jenin, the first such deployment to the territory in 20 years.
Since the Gaza ceasefire’s first phase began on Jan. 19, Hamas has released 25 living Israeli hostages in ceremonies before crowds at locations in Gaza.
Armed masked fighters escort the captives onto stages adorned with slogans. The hostages have spoken and waved in what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called “humiliating ceremonies.”
The Red Cross appealed to “all parties” for the swaps to be carried out in a “dignified and private” manner.
In the seventh transfer on Saturday, Hamas released six Israeli captives, but Israel put off the planned release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners in exchange.
Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim said that postponing the release exposes “the entire agreement to grave danger.”
Naim said the mediators, “especially the Americans,” must pressure Israel’s government “to implement the agreement as it is and immediately release our prisoners.”
Both sides have accused each other of violations during the ceasefire, but it has so far held.
Early yesterday, Netanyahu’s office said that “in light of Hamas’ repeated violations — including the disgraceful ceremonies that dishonor our hostages and the cynical use of hostages for propaganda — it has been decided to delay the release of terrorists.”
The war started after Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, attacked Israel, killing more than 1,200 people. Israel’s retaliation killed more than 48,000, according to figures from both sides.
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