Chicago – February 22, 2025
Hamas released six Israeli hostages from Gaza on Saturday, marking the last group expected to be freed under the first phase of a ceasefire agreement. However, hours after the release, Israel had not yet freed more than 600 Palestinian prisoners as part of the deal.
The delay came without any official explanation from the Israeli government, despite expectations that the prisoner release would follow immediately. The Israeli prime minister’s office did not respond to requests for comment on the situation.
This prisoner release would have been the largest one-day release since the ceasefire began. The delay has led to criticism from Hamas, with spokesperson Abdel Latif Al-Qanou accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “deliberately stalling” and violating the agreement.
The ceasefire, which started last month, is in its initial stage with one week remaining. The unexpected delay raises concerns about the stability of the truce and the future of negotiations.
