'Israel Putting Gaza Ceasefire Deal at Risk of Collapse': Hamas Demands Immediate Release of Prisoners

West Bank: The advanced talks for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire accord are not “possible” until Israel frees 600 Palestinian prisoners, Hamas said on Tuesday. 

Hamas has alleged that Israel is in 'serious violation’ of the Gaza ceasefire agreement over the delay in the release of 600 Palestinian prisoners. 

According to the agreement, Israel will release the prisoners in exchange for hostages that are in the captivity of Hamas. 

Israel Putting Ceasefire Deal At Risk, says Hamas

Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official, said that the delay in the release of the prisoners is putting the Gaza ceasefire agreement “at risk of collapse, potentially leading to a resumption of war”. 

Also Read: Family Confirms New Body Handed Over by Hamas is of Shiri Bibas

Earlier last week, Israel Defense Forces called Hamas a “genocidal terrorist organization” as it returned the bodies of four hostages, including an infant and a 4-year-old child. 

Exposing the brutalities committed by Hamas militants, the IDF said, “Hamas terrorists looked in the eyes of 9-month-old Kfir and 4-year-old Ariel and decided to murder them. Kfir never took his first steps. Ariel never made it to first grade.”

Expressing grief over the killings, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “The State of Israel bows its head for Ariel and Kfir Bibas, may their memory be a blessing. The cruelty of the Hamas monsters knows no bounds. Hamas will pay the full price. May God avenge their blood. And we will too."

Ceasefire Between Hamas and Israel 

On January 15, Hamas and Israel came into agreement over the release of living hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli jails.