23.02.2025 20:41
In a security consultation meeting led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, it was reported that the release of Palestinian prisoners has been suspended. During the meeting, possible scenarios for the release of more prisoners were evaluated. Meanwhile, the Israeli press provided important details regarding the background of the decision.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with some ministers and senior officials, attended a security consultation meeting regarding the suspension of the release of Palestinian prisoners that was supposed to take place in the 7th round of the prisoner exchange. Some details about the meeting and the events that transpired were reported by the Israeli press.
The Israeli press reported that, in addition to Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, and Shas Party leader Rabbi Aryeh Deri, as well as security chiefs, also attended the security consultation meeting.
According to reports, the Tel Aviv administration wants the bodies of 4 Israeli prisoners expected to be delivered in the first phase of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement from Hamas to be handed over before Thursday, and it seeks to expand the first phase of the agreement to include the release of more prisoners.
ISRAEL WANTS THE EARLY DELIVERY OF 4 BODIES
Haaretz newspaper reported that Israeli leaders discussed options to extend the ceasefire for the release of more prisoners, advance the agreement under U.S. pressure, or restart attacks on Gaza during the meeting.
The report highlighted that extending the first phase of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement for the release of more Israeli prisoners, moving to the second phase under U.S. pressure despite opposition from Netanyahu and other ministers, and restarting attacks on Gaza are options on the table.
In a report by Israel Hayom based on government sources, it was noted that Israeli officials do not want to release over 600 Palestinian prisoners in the seventh round of the prisoner exchange without receiving the bodies of the 4 Israeli prisoners from Gaza.
PHILADELPHIA CORRIDOR IS ALSO ON THE AGENDA
The Times of Israel, which made similar comments, reported that the issue of withdrawal from the Philadelphia Corridor was also discussed during the meeting with the attending ministers.
According to the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, Israel is obligated to begin withdrawing from the Philadelphia Corridor on the 42nd day of the ceasefire and to complete the withdrawal on the 52nd day. The 42nd day falls on the upcoming Saturday.
PALESTINIAN PRISONERS WERE RETURNED TO JAIL AFTER BEING LOADED ON BUSES
Maariv newspaper provided details about what Palestinian prisoners experienced while waiting to be released. According to the report, it was expected that the Palestinian prisoners would be released late at night, but a decision was made to postpone their release towards the end of the meeting.
Israel, which suspended the release of Palestinian prisoners on the grounds that the release ceremony for the prisoners in Gaza was "humiliating," loaded the Palestinian prisoners onto Red Cross buses for release and then sent them back to their cells. Palestinian prisoners expected to be released from Ketziot Prison in southern Israel were kept on buses for 12 hours and returned to their cells after a 2-hour process.
THEY WILL DRESS THEM IN CLOTHING WITH EXPRESSIONS FROM THE TORAH
On the other hand, Israeli officials who dressed Palestinian prisoners in clothing with the Star of David and the phrase "we will not forget, we will not forgive" during the sixth round of the prisoner exchange are reported to have also dressed the Palestinian prisoners to be released this week in clothing with the Arabic version of the phrase from the Torah: "I will pursue my enemies and catch them. I will not return until I destroy them." They also reportedly wore bracelets with the phrase "I will never forget, I will pursue my enemies and I will defeat them."
WHAT HAPPENED?
Hamas had released 6 Israeli prisoners held in the Gaza Strip as part of the seventh round of the prisoner exchange. Despite Hamas releasing the Israeli prisoners, it was noted that the release of Palestinian prisoners depended on the decision that would come out of Netanyahu's "security consultation meeting."
In a statement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the security consultation meeting, it was announced that the release of Palestinian prisoners was suspended due to "ceremonies that humiliate Israeli prisoners and their use for propaganda purposes."
Hamas stated that Israel was trying to manipulate the names of the prisoners to be released and clearly violated the agreement, calling on mediators and the international community to pressure Israel to implement the agreement and release the prisoners without delay.
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