Netanyahu delays Palestinian prisoner release after ‘chaotic’ Hamas scenes

Israel will delay the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails amid chaotic scenes surrounding Hamas’s release of hostages it kidnapped from Israel and held since its attack on Oct. 7, 2023. 

The release of Palestinian prisoners would be delayed until the “safe exit of our hostages in the next phases is assured,” the Israeli Prime Minister’s office said in a statement posted on the social platform X.

“Israel demands that the mediators see to this,” the statement continued. The U.S., Qatar and Egypt are the primary mediators of the ceasefire deal. 

Netanyahu’s office followed up that “the mediators have conveyed a commitment” to ensure the safe exit of hostages released by Hamas in the next phase. 

“Israel insists that the lessons be learned and that strict care be taken in the next phases regarding the safe return of our hostages,” the statement read.

Video circulated on social media showed hostages forced to walk between surging crowds, guarded by masked gunmen before being handed over to the International Red Cross, which is helping facilitate the transfers.

“I view with great severity the shocking scenes during the release of our hostages,” Netanyahu said, the Times of Israel reported. “This is further proof of the unimaginable cruelty of the Hamas terrorist organization.” 

It is not initially clear how the prime minister’s statement will impact the truce, which has continued for nearly two weeks since it went into effect on Jan. 19. 

The first phase of the ceasefire is expected to last for six weeks, with Hamas releasing 33 hostages in exchange for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The hostages released during this phase are expected to include women, elderly men, and those needing medical attention, and the bodies of hostages. 

During the first phase, negotiators are supposed to begin talks on a second phase of a ceasefire deal that would allow for the release of more hostages held by Hamas, including Israeli soldiers. Among the Israeli soldiers held by Hamas include an American, Edan Alexander. 

President Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, met with Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Thursday. Witkoff also reportedly traveled with the Israeli military into territory it controls in the Gaza Strip, marking the first visit by a senior U.S. official to the territory in a decade. 

“Implementation here is the critical thing. The execution of the agreement was important, it was a first step, but without the implementation correct, we’re not going to get it right, we’re going to have a flare up and that’s not a good thing,” Witkoff said Wednesday at a New York synagogue.  

The hostages released on Wednesday included Agam Berger, 20, who was serving as a military observer in southern Israel when she was abducted; and civilians Arbel Yehud, 29, and Gadi Mozes, 80. The five Thai nationals are Thenna Pongsak, Sathian Suwannakham, Watchara Sriaoun, Bannawat Seathao, and Rumnao Surasak.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with Thailand’s ambassador to Israel and said he was committed to seeing the release of three other Thai hostages held by Hamas.  

Updated at 10:25 a.m. EST