Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have ordered the postponement of the planned release of Palestinian prisoners, originally set for January 30, pending a guarantee of the safe return of Israeli hostages by the Palestinian group Hamas.
Netanyahu stated, “I am taking the shocking images from the release of our hostages with utmost seriousness. This is further evidence of the unimaginable brutality of the terrorist organization Hamas. I demand that the mediators ensure that such threats do not recur and the safety of our hostages is guaranteed.”
He also threatened that anyone who dares to harm Israeli hostages will “pay the price”.
Under the agreement between Israel and Hamas, which has led to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip since January 19, Israel is required to release dozens of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of an Israeli hostage by Hamas.
On January 30, Hamas released two Israelis and five Thais from captivity. A 29-year-old German-Israeli, Arbel Yehud, was paraded in front of the ruins of the former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s house before being handed over, with a group of Palestinians surrounding her and the militant fighters, loudly expressing their discontent.
Yahya Sinwar’s house was located in Khan Yunis, where the hostage handover took place. The crowd obstructed the traffic and circled a Red Cross vehicle, in which one of the hostages was likely being held, according to the Times of Israel.