Israel holds off on prisoner release, demands Hamas meet conditions

Israel has delayed the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners until Hamas meets its conditions, highlighting tensions over the fragile Gaza ceasefire.

Israel said on Sunday it was postponing the planned release of 620 Palestinian prisoners until it received assurances from Hamas about the next hostage release and the absence of public ceremonies. The move follows concerns over Hamas’ recent handovers, which UN officials criticised as violating international law.

On Saturday, Hamas freed six hostages as part of the ceasefire agreement. These were the last living captives set for release under the first phase of the truce, with the bodies of four more hostages expected next week.

Hamas has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire by failing to release Palestinian detainees as scheduled, though the truce has held since its start on 19 January. Both sides have frequently blamed each other for breaches.

Talks on the next phase of the ceasefire continue, with mediators aiming to secure the release of all remaining hostages and a potential Israeli troop withdrawal. Over 60 captives remain in Gaza, fewer than half of whom are believed to be alive.

The war began with Hamas’ 7 October attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages taken, according to Israeli authorities. Israel’s subsequent military campaign has killed at least 48,000 people, according to Palestinian health officials, leaving much of Gaza in ruins.

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