After the Return of "Fake Bodies," Hostages Used in Propaganda Events
Uncertainty Over Continuation of Ceasefire Ahead of Second-Phase Negotiations
Israel abruptly postponed the release of Palestinian prisoners agreed upon during the ceasefire with Hamas. The reason cited was that Hamas humiliated the hostages by involving them in propaganda events before their release.
On the 23rd (local time), according to the Associated Press, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced in a statement that the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners scheduled for that day would be postponed. Among them were 50 prisoners serving life sentences.
On the 8th (local time), armed Hamas militants are forcing Israeli hostages to express gratitude. AP Yonhap News
The reason for the postponement given by the Prime Minister's office was Hamas. Hamas allegedly violated the dignity of the hostages by using them in propaganda events prior to their release.
The previous day, Hamas released six Israeli hostages. During this process, masked and armed Hamas operatives stood the Israeli hostages in front of a crowd. One hostage kissed the heads of Hamas operatives and waved to the crowd with a smile. This behavior is presumed to have been coerced by Hamas.
Earlier, on the 8th, Hamas also released three Israeli hostages, took them on a tour around the Gaza Strip in a vehicle, and then made them stand on an outdoor stage. The hostages were then forced to hold 'release certificates' and deliver coerced thank-you speeches.
On the 22nd (local time), an Israeli hostage released was waving to the Palestinian crowd under Hamas' coercion. Photo by UPI
In addition, there was an incident where unidentified remains were sent to Israel disguised as the bodies of hostages, which was later revealed through DNA testing. On the 20th, according to the ceasefire agreement, Hamas handed over the bodies of four hostages to Israel: Siri Bivas (32 at the time of abduction), her two sons Ariel (4) and Kfir (10 months old), and Oded Lipschitz (84). However, the body identified as Siri Bivas was found to be that of an unidentified person. Later, the remains were confirmed to belong to a Palestinian woman.
Prime Minister Netanyahu stated, "Hamas cruelly and maliciously violated the ceasefire agreement," and announced plans for retaliation. Hamas initially claimed it was a simple mistake but later returned the real body of Bivas. The Prime Minister's office stated, "The return of Palestinian prisoners will be postponed until the repatriation proceeds without humiliating ceremonies for the hostages and the release of other hostages is guaranteed."
According to the ceasefire agreement reached last month, Hamas and Israel agreed to halt hostilities for six weeks in the first phase and exchange hostages and prisoners. During this period, discussions on the second and third phases of the ceasefire, including the release of Israeli soldiers and a permanent ceasefire, were to begin.
However, conflicts between the two sides escalated from the hostage release process, casting doubt on the continuation of the ceasefire. It is currently known that more than 60 Israeli hostages are being held, and Hamas plans to hand over four more bodies to Israel next week.
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