Following Hamas’ public parading of Israeli hostages, Israel has postponed the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners, demanding assurances that future hostage returns occur without humiliation or propaganda.
Tel Aviv [Israel], February 23: In a major escalation, Israel has announced it will delay the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners until it receives firm guarantees that future Israeli hostages will be freed without being subjected to public humiliation.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) justified the decision, citing Hamas’ repeated violations and exploitation of hostages for propaganda purposes.
"In light of Hamas' repeated violations, including the ceremonies that humiliate our hostages and the cynical exploitation of our hostages for propaganda purposes... 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," the PMO stated on X (formerly Twitter).
Hamas’ Public Parades of Hostages Draw Global Outrage
On Saturday, Hamas released six Israeli hostages from Gaza, but two of them—Tal Shoham and Avera Mengistu—were handed over in a public ceremony, attracting massive crowds.
A video shared by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs showed large groups of Gazans gathered to watch the handover, intensifying Israeli anger over the exploitation of hostages for propaganda.
The issue gained global attention after the cold-blooded murder of the Bibas brothers—Ariel Bibas (4 years old) and Kfir Bibas (10 months old)—was revealed. Their remains, paraded publicly in Gaza, were later returned to Israel.
The Tragic Case of the Bibas Family
On Friday, citing forensic reports, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) revealed that Hamas had killed the Bibas brothers "with bare hands" after keeping them in captivity for weeks.
"The terrorists did not shoot the two young boys—they killed them with their bare hands. Afterwards, they committed horrific acts to cover up these atrocities," the IDF reported.
Adding to the outrage, Hamas returned the body of an unidentified woman, falsely claiming it to be the boys’ mother, Shiri Bibas. However, Israeli forensic tests confirmed that the remains did not match any Israeli hostage.
Days later, Israel finally received the actual remains of Shiri Bibas, which were identified and confirmed by her family.
Delayed Prisoner Release and Security Concerns
Israel was initially expected to release 620 Palestinian prisoners, including 23 minors and one woman, in exchange for Saturday’s hostage release. However, citing security concerns and Hamas’ handling of the process, Israeli authorities delayed the move for further review.
With tensions at an all-time high, Israel’s stance signals a hardening of its approach, demanding clear guarantees from Hamas before any further negotiations.
Tags:
Israel-Hamas conflict, hostage crisis, Bibas family, Israel prisoner exchange, Hamas propaganda, Gaza war, Israeli hostages, Israel-Palestine tensions, IDF, Middle East crisis, war crimes, hostage negotiations, humanitarian crisis
Last Updated on February 23, 2025 by Sandeep
