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Israel: truce at risk for failure to release Palestinian prisoners

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Netanyahu blocks the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners, demanding Hamas return the bodies today and without ceremony on stage. Hamas accuses Israel of jeopardising the truce agreement

Israel announced today, 24 February, that it would be ready to release the 602 Palestinian prisoners who were due to be freed on Saturday, but set conditions: Hamas will have to return the four bodies scheduled for this week and will not be allowed to hold ceremonies with the bodies, as happened with the Bibas family and Oded Lifshitz. This decision provoked a harsh reaction from Hamas, which accused Israel of jeopardising the entire truce agreement. Bassem Naïm, a senior Hamas official, said: ‘By delaying the release of our prisoners, the enemy is behaving like a thug and seriously endangering the agreement’.

Hamas has also made it known through one of its leaders, Mahmoud Mardawi, that it does not intend to continue the talks until the 620 Palestinian prisoners are released in full. This standoff has put the fragile truce in Gaza at risk, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterating Israel’s readiness to resume fighting ‘at any time’. The blocking of the release of prisoners is linked to the spectacular release of Israeli hostages by Hamas, an event that triggered violent reactions even within Israel.

The truce agreement provided for the release of the Palestinian prisoners at the same time as the release of the Israeli hostages, six of whom were freed on Saturday. However, Israel has indicated that it will not proceed until the next hostage exchange, further escalating tensions. Meanwhile, the IDF arrested two Palestinian suspects accused of attacking two Israelis in the central West Bank. According to the army, Palestinians attacked the Israelis with batons, knives and stones, while other reports speak of clashes between settlers and Palestinians, with injuries on both sides and fires set on Bedouin buildings.

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