Talks between Hamas and Israel over the next phase of Gaza ceasefire negotiations have hit a roadblock after Israel delayed the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners, citing violations by Hamas.
The setback comes as the first phase of the six-week truce nears its end, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres warning that the situation remains fragile.
On Saturday, Hamas released six living Israeli hostages, though Israel condemned the handover process as “humiliating” due to public parades staged by armed fighters. The previous week, Hamas returned the bodies of four Israeli hostages, including Shiri Bibas and her two young sons. An initial mix-up led to the body of a Palestinian woman being handed over instead of Bibas, an error later corrected.
In response, Israel postponed the scheduled release of Palestinian detainees, including 400 Gazans captured during the war and 50 prisoners serving life sentences. The Israeli government stated that the decision would stand “until the next hostages are assured to be released without humiliating ceremonies.”
Hamas condemned the move as a “blatant violation” of the ceasefire deal. “We cannot continue discussing any further steps if these 620 Palestinians are not released,” said Hamas political bureau member Basem Naim. He warned that future returns, including the scheduled transfer of four more bodies, could also be halted.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, is set to visit the region to push for an extension of the ceasefire and the release of more hostages. The White House supported Israel’s stance, labeling Hamas’s treatment of hostages as “barbaric.”
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a cross-border attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and abducting 251. In retaliation, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, resulting in more than 48,346 deaths, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
As negotiations continue, the ceasefire’s second phase aims to secure the release of remaining hostages, achieve a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and establish a permanent ceasefire.
