Israel will delay the seventh hostage exchange In protest due to Hamas’s “degrading” hostage treatment, according to Israeli officials.
The release of 620 Palestinian prisoners, which was scheduled for Saturday, delayed the prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On Sunday morning, Netanyahu’s office issued a statement condemning Hamas’s propaganda generated during an exchange.
“In the light of Hamas repeated violations, including ceremonies that humiliate our hostages and cynically exploit our hostages for propaganda purposes, it was decided to delay the release of terrorists planned for yesterday until the announcement of the following hostages convinced, and without humiliating ceremonies,” the office statement said .
The statement came after the reports of Hamas used the Israeli prisoners to the fighters while they were released. On Saturday, five of the six liberated hostages followed armed militants in front of the crowd, including three Israeli hostages who posed with terrorists.
The Palestinians gather as the Hamas fighters followed the Red Cross vehicles in front of the handover of Israeli hostages in Nuseiirat, on Saturday Central Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Omer Wenkert, Omer Shem Tov and Eliya Cohen were among the hostages forced to pose with terrorists. Shem fattening was also forced to look cheerful, kiss two militants on the head and blew kisses in the crowd.
The three also wore false military uniforms, although he did not enroll them when Hamas captured them.
In the second recent ceremony orchestrated by Hamas, four coffins were erected in front of Netanyahu’s caricature with a banner saying: “The war criminal Netanyahu and his Nazi army were killed by rockets from the Zionist plane aircraft.”
Palestinian militants of Hamas gather at the scene of the body of four Israeli hostages in Khan Yunis, southern Gazi on Thursday. (Boca Eyad/Afp via Getttyemes)
In an interview with Fox News Digital, the Israeli Ambassador of the United Nations Danny Danon called the gesture “evil and destroyed”.
“For 16 months, Israel has been fighting a dilapidated terrorist organization that does not give value to human life, especially if Israeli or Jewish – as long as international institutions like UN are restrained from condemnation of Hamas and officially demanding the immediate return Our hostages, “ Said Danon.
The United Nations also condemned the coffin incident.
The Israelites stand under the posters with hostage photos during February 10, which marked the 24th birthday of Alona Ohela, which Hamas holds hostage in the hostage square. (Eyal Warshavsky/Sopa Images/Lightctics via Gettty Images)
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“According to international law, any surrender of the remains () of the deceased must be in accordance with the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or humiliating treatment, ensuring the respect of the dignity of the deceased and their families,” said Geneva United Nations on X, attributing a quote to the High Commissioner for Volker for Human Rights Türk.
Rachel Wolf Associated Press and Fox News Digital contributed to this report.