Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone attacked the main road in the town of Harouf, South Lebanon.
Lebanese President: Israeli aggression on Blida took place in aftermath of meeting of ceasefire monitoring committee.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun asks Commander of Lebanese Army to confront any Israeli incursion into liberated Lebanese territory in the South.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli aircraft launch series of strikes on area of Jarmaq, South Lebanon.
Reuters: Afghanistan and Pakistan agree to restart peace talks in Istanbul.
Al-Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli occupation forces withdraw from the Blida municipality building two hours after occupying it, and the Lebanese army enters
Pakistani army: 6 soldiers and 7 militants killed in clash near the Afghan border
Israeli media: Sirens sound in the settlement of Kerem Shalom in the Gaza envelope area
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: We still believe in dialogue and prioritize diplomatic solutions with Pakistan; though we are ready for all possibilities.
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: Pakistan purposely obstructed negotiations in Turkey by making unrealistic demands.

Gantz calls for captives' swift return, implementation of first phase

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 27 Feb 2025 18:20
3 Min Read

Israeli Knesset member Benny Gantz demands that the first phase of the prisoner exchange deal not be postponed to ensure the swift return of Israeli captives.

Listen
  • x
  • Israeli politician Benny Gantz speaks with the media on a viewpoint near the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 (AP)
    Israeli politician Benny Gantz speaks with the media on a viewpoint near the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 (AP)

Israeli Knesset member Benny Gantz on Thursday criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that the idea of extending the first phase of the prisoner exchange deal stems from "partisan interests." 

He stressed that the Israeli occupation's true priority should be to swiftly secure the release of more living captives, as their lives are in danger and time is working in Hamas' favor, allowing it to rearm and strengthen its political position. 

During a tour in northern occupied Palestine, Gantz addressed Netanyahu directly, saying, "Prime Minister, stop wasting time. All captives must be returned, and Hamas must be confronted without our hands tied. Extending the timeframe only strengthens Hamas." 

Gantz’s remarks come as the first phase of the deal nears its conclusion amid reports that Netanyahu intends to prolong it instead of moving to the second phase, particularly after leaks suggesting that Israeli forces will not withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor in Gaza. 

Read more: Israeli captives' families accuse Netanyahu of blocking prisoner swap

Meanwhile, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid warned, "If we do not proceed with the deal now, all the captives will die. We must not allow that to happen." 

In a related development, Netanyahu’s office announced that he had instructed a negotiation team to travel to Cairo on Thursday to continue talks on the deal. 

Related News

'Israel' approves illegal settlement expansion in occupied al-Quds

Nazzal: Netanyahu violating Gaza ceasefire, Resistance holds firm

This comes after the Palestinian resistance, on Wednesday night, released the seventh batch of Palestinian prisoners, which included 620 detainees, following the handover of the remains of four Israelis to the International Committee of the Red Cross. 

Netanyahu delays deal

The Israeli government has postponed the release of Palestinian detainees who were set to be freed on Saturday under the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.

Early on Sunday, after hours of stalling, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Palestinian prisoners' release will be delayed indefinitely. Netanyahu pointed to the celebratory events arranged by the Resistance before handing over Israeli captives to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as the reason behind the decision. 

"In light of the repeated violations by Hamas — including the ceremonies that demean our hostages and the cynical use of our hostages for propaganda purposes — it has been decided to delay the release of terrorists planned for yesterday until the next release of hostages is guaranteed, and without the degrading ceremonies," Netanyahu said.

Read more: Israelis are violating ceasefire over prisoner swap delay: Hamas

Captives demand Israeli gov. negotiate their release

In a widely circulated video, Israeli captive Omer Shem Tov was seen kissing the foreheads of two al-Qassam Brigades fighters during the event in the al-Nuseirat refugee camp. The footage quickly went viral across social media platforms.

Two other Israeli captives, Eviatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal, were also seen in the ceremony. The two captives were not scheduled for release in the first stage of the ceasefire agreement. Moreover, the status of the two has been unknown for months now. 

Both David and Gilbao-Dalal were shocked to see fellow captives being released and urged the Israeli government to secure their release. 

"Netanyahu stop! You have finished us, you killed us!" Gilboa-Dalal said.

 
  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation
  • Palestine
  • Occupied Palestine
  • Gaza
  • Benny Gantz
  • Knesset

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Hi-tech holocaust: Microsoft’s role in Gaza genocide

Microsoft's role in world’s first AI-driven genocide, in Gaza, exposed

  • Technology
  • 28 Oct 2025
What Marr evidently didn't seem to understand was that Hedges isn't saying that Western journalists manipulate the truth, but that they systematically amplify Israeli narratives they know are false. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Western journalists know they have a case to answer for their betrayal of Gaza, and it frightens them

  • Opinion
  • 24 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
An undated photo of US Air Force personnel from the 576th Flight Test Squadron Missile Handling Team installing a cable raceway on an intercontinental ballistic missile at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California (Staff Sgt Jonathan Snyder/US Air Force)
Politics

Trump nuclear test threat risks escalating tensions with China: NYT

Displaced Palestinians walk along the coastal road near Wadi Gaza in the central Gaza Strip, moving toward northern Gaza, Friday, Octtober. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Politics

US advances Gaza security force plan amid fragile ceasefire

Sam Altman, co-founder and chief executive officer, OpenAI, listens to testimony during a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing, Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Technology

OpenAI prepares for historic IPO targeting $1 trillion valuation

'Israel' approves illegal settlement expansion in occupied al-Quds
Politics

'Israel' approves illegal settlement expansion in occupied al-Quds

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS