The hostages had been held in captivity in the Gaza Strip by the militant group since its attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images

Hamas frees more hostages, but Israel delays release of Palestinian prisoners – POLITICO

by · POLITICO

Hamas freed six Israeli hostages on Saturday, but Israel delayed the liberation of hundreds of Palestinians prisoners as tensions escalated in the West Bank and threatened the future of the Gaza cease-fire agreement.

Israel said the freeing of 620 Palestinians was delayed “until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies” at handovers of Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip.

The release of the Palestinian prisoners was meant to occur just after six Israeli hostages were freed by the Hamas militant group on Saturday. It was meant to be the largest one-day prisoner release in the Gaza cease-fire’s first phase.