Israel stops Palestinian prisoner release, Hamas warns: 'Truce in danger'
Hamas's shows during the release of hostages have infuriated Benjamin Netanyahu (the latest one yesterday, with a prisoner forced to kiss a militiaman on the forehead ).
Yesterday the Israeli Prime Minister announced: "It has been decided to postpone the planned release of the terrorists until the release of the next hostages is secured without the humiliating ceremonies."
Tel Aviv was supposed to release 600 prisoners today. Hamas condemns the decision and appeals to mediators: "This puts the truce at risk." And it denies the "humiliating" ceremonies: " The ceremony for handing over the prisoners," Hamas explains, "does not include any insults, but instead reflects the humane and noble treatment reserved for them ."
Yesterday, the last six living hostages from the first phase of the truce agreement were released: two on a stage set up by Hamas in Rafah, three on another in Nuseirat, and one entrusted to the Red Cross. When 22-year-old Omr Shem Tov went on stage, a Hamas cameraman told him to kiss the heads of two armed militiamen wearing keffiyehs . He did so, knowing that he was taking part in a worldwide show. Israeli media stressed that "he could not do otherwise: it was an order from the terrorists."
(Unioneonline/L)
