Netanyahu violates agreement, denies release of Palestinian detainees

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
23 Feb 2025 03:02
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The office of the Israeli prime minister says that authorities will not release prisoners scheduled to be liberated on Saturday.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a joint news conference with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Prime Minister's office in occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, on February 16, 2025. (AP)

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.

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.

"Return us to our homes, please!" both captives urged.

Gilboa-Dalal also demanded that the Israeli government proceed with negotiations with the Palestinian Resistance and reach an agreement that would secure their release.

"Military pressure will kill us all," he added.

"You initiated a deal, continue with it," David said.

Both captives then urged Israelis to protest until they were released.

The deal's framework states that no additional living Israeli captives will be released at this stage of the ceasefire agreement. Future releases are contingent on subsequent phases, which aim to establish conditions for a lasting ceasefire and an end to the war on Gaza—an outcome Netanyahu has been actively working to prevent.

Israeli media outlets reported that 63 Israelis remain in the Gaza Strip up to this point with at least 24 of them thought to be alive.

Palestinian Prisoners Club denounces Israeli move

In response to Netanyahu's decision, the Palestinian Prisoners Club said that the delay amounts to "organized terrorism" enacted by Israeli authorities against Palestinian detainees.

This latest exchange round would have seen the liberation of 602 Palestinians including Nael al-Barghouti, the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner.

"The occupation has spared no tool in its relentless campaign of humiliation, abuse, and torture against prisoners and their families," the Palestinian organization underlined.

The club also pointed to countless instances where Israeli occupation forces raided the homes of freed prisoners and terrorized them and their families. It is also worth noting that Israeli authorities brutally stop any celebrations related to the release of prisoners.