The White House on Sunday announced its support for Israel’s decision to delay the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners as part of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, citing the terrorist group’s “barbaric treatment” of Israeli hostages.
U.S. National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes described the delay as an “appropriate response” to the terrorist group’s actions, according to Reuters.
He also stated that U.S. President Donald Trump was ready to back Jerusalem in “whatever course of action it chooses regarding Hamas.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated early on Sunday morning that the Jewish state was pausing the release of Palestinian prisoners slated to be freed as part of the ceasefire.
“In light of Hamas’s repeated violations, including the ceremonies that humiliate our hostages and the cynical exploitation of our hostages for propaganda purposes, it has been decided to delay the release of terrorists that was planned for yesterday until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies,” said Netanyahu, according to an English translation provided by his office.
Israel was set to release 620 Palestinian terrorists on Saturday, including 50 serving life sentences, 60 serving long terms and 47 who were re-arrested after being released as part of the 2011 swap for captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Hamas is slated to return four additional bodies to Israel next Thursday, in what would be the final exchange of Phase 1 of the ceasefire agreement that took effect on Jan. 19 and is due to end on March 1.
