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February 24, 2025 | 04:20 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The United States on Sunday, February 23, 2025, expressed support for Israel to postpone the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners held in several prisons in Israel. The U.S. argues that Hamas has treated Israeli hostages with brutality.
White House National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes said that postponing the release of Palestinian prisoners is a justified response to Hamas for their treatment of Israeli hostages. He emphasized that U.S. President Donald Trump has prepared support for Israel regarding any actions by Hamas.
Prior to this, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office claimed that the ceremonial handover of hostages by Hamas to the UN authorities had violated international law. The mentioned ceremony brought the hostages to the stage before the Palestinians. Sometimes, the hostages were asked to express their hopes and comments before being handed over to the authorities. Hamas even brought coffins of deceased hostages onto the stage.
Ezzat El Rashq, a member of Hamas' political bureau, stated that the ceremonial release of hostages was not meant to humiliate them, but to emphasize humanity and to treat the hostages with dignity. Actual torture, according to Hamas, is being experienced by Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Reuters reported that Hamas claimed the Palestinian prisoners were released with chained hands, blindfolded, and were warned not to celebrate their release. Hamas considers such actions by the Israeli authorities to be truly humiliating.
The differing opinions on the ceremonial release of hostages have weakened the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement. The ceasefire agreement was approved on January 19, 2025, as part of efforts to stop the Gaza war that had been raging since October 2023.
Hamas has threatened not to release Israeli hostages after accusing Tel Aviv of numerous ceasefire violations. Among Israel's violations is obstructing the entry of aid into Gaza.
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