FLASH
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Israel has announced it is delaying the release of over 600 Palestinian prisoners, saying their release will only occur after ensuring the return of Israeli hostages without "humiliating ceremonies" from Hamas in Gaza.
The statement came from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Sunday morning. Military vehicles, which usually accompany buses carrying prisoners, left Ofer prison, but later returned inside.
This sudden decision has delayed the release of the prisoners by several hours, although it was scheduled to take place immediately after the release of six Israeli hostages by Hamas on Saturday.
This was expected to be the largest single-day release in the first phase of the ceasefire.
Tensions over hostage release
The recent release of hostages by Hamas has sparked controversy after some of them were escorted by armed militants in front of large crowds.
This has brought reactions from international organizations such as the UN and the Red Cross, which have condemned this action as "cruel".
Israel has stated that "ceremonies that humiliate the dignity of hostages and their use for propaganda" are reasons for the delay in the release of Palestinian prisoners.
The future of the ceasefire remains uncertain
The six hostages released on Saturday were the last expected to be released in the first phase of the ceasefire, which was brokered by the US, Qatar and Egypt.
So far, there are no clear talks about the second phase of the agreement.
Meanwhile, Hamas has announced that it will hand over the bodies of the four dead hostages next week, to fulfill its part of the deal.
Currently, the group still holds over 60 hostages, half of whom are believed to be alive.
The second phase of the ceasefire is expected to include the release of all remaining hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
It also aims to bring about a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the fighting.
However, Hamas has stressed that it will not release any more hostages without clear guarantees from Israel that the agreement will be respected.
Will the war continue?
Netanyahu, with the support of the US administration, has stated that he aims to destroy Hamas' military and governing capabilities and secure the return of all Israeli hostages.
An Israeli official told the Associated Press that Netanyahu is expected to hold a meeting with security advisers to discuss the future of the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Israel's military offensive in Gaza has caused over 48,000 Palestinian casualties, the majority of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
About 90% of the population of 2.1 million has been displaced several times, while the enclave's infrastructure has been almost completely destroyed.
The UN has warned that Gaza will take decades to rebuild and recover from the devastation of the war.
The current war broke out in response to the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people in Israel.
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