Israel delays release of Palestinian prisoners after Hamas frees six Israelis

Israel has postponed the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners that was scheduled for Saturday. This decision follows the release of six Israelis by Hamas under a fragile Gaza truce, which is nearing the end of its first phase. Hamas criticized Israel's delay, calling it a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire agreement. The group accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of stalling the process, which was meant to include the release of 620 Palestinian inmates. The six Israelis released earlier were the last group of living prisoners under the truce's first phase. The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club noted that most of the inmates to be freed were detained after the October 2023 raids.