Hamas urges mediators to pressure Israel amid delay in release of Palestinian prisoners under ceasefire

CAIRO – 22 February 2025: Hamas has called upon the mediators and guarantors of the ceasefire agreement with Israel in Gaza to exert pressure on Tel Aviv following a delay in the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners scheduled for Saturday under the terms of the deal.

On Saturday, Hamas released six Israeli captives from Gaza: Omer Shem Tov, Eliya Cohen, Omer Wenkert, Hisham al-Sayed, Tal Shoham, and Avera Mengistu, as part of the seventh prisoner swap under the agreement.

Over the past two days, Hamas also returned the bodies of four Israeli captives it said were killed by Israeli bombardment during the war, including members of the Bibas family: a mother and her two children.

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Hamas Movement released, on Saturday, the seventh batch of the Israeli captives, the last group who released in the phase 1 of the prisoner swap deal between the movement and Israel under the Egypt/Qatar/US brokerage#Egypt #Palestine #MiddleEast #Israel…

— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) February 22, 2025

In return, Israeli authorities were set to release 620 Palestinian prisoners and detainees today, including many captured during the Gaza war that erupted in October 2023, as well as dozens serving life sentences.

However, Israeli sources reported that the release of these prisoners has been postponed pending a decision from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, according to AFP.

Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif Al-Qanou stated that Israel’s failure to release the seventh group of prisoners today constitutes a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement.

“While Hamas has responded to the efforts of mediators to successfully carry out the exchange process, war criminal Netanyahu continues his delaying tactics and postpones the release of the prisoners,” Al-Qanou said.

He urged the mediators and guarantors of the agreement to pressure Israel “to respect the ceasefire agreement and implement its terms without delay or procrastination.”

Released Israeli Captive Kisses Hamas Fighter’s Head During 7th Batch Handover in Prisoner Swap Deal #Egypt #Palestine #MiddleEast #Israel #GAZA | #تحيا_مصر #مصر #فلسطين #إسرائيل #غزة #تضامناً_مع_فلسطين #هدنة #الهدنة #الاسرى #رفح pic.twitter.com/aNeMB7FbYT

— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) February 22, 2025

An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that Netanyahu will hold a security consultation Saturday evening.

A second source mentioned that a decision regarding the delay in releasing the prisoners will be made following the security meeting, determining the next steps in the ceasefire agreement.

Hamas and Israel are set to start talks on advancing to the second phase of the agreement, which includes a permanent cessation of the Gaza war, a full withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the release of dozens of captives still held by Hamas.

However, talks appear to have not yet started, despite being scheduled for earlier this month, with the first phase set to expire in March, creating uncertainty about the future of the agreement.

Under the ceasefire, Hamas has thus far released 30 living captives it took from Israel, including Israeli civilians and soldiers and Thai nationals.

Hamas still holds 63 captives, including deceased individuals.

In return, Israel has released a total of 1,135 Palestinian prisoners, including many serving life sentences, not including the 620 it was scheduled to release on Saturday.