The Israeli side says this is pending a security guarantee for future releases. The decision comes in protest of the way Israeli hostages were released in Khan Younis earlier today.
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, together with Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, has ordered the postponement of the terrorist release scheduled for today until the safe passage of our hostages can be guaranteed in the next releases,” The Times of Israel quoted Netanyahu’s office as saying in a statement.
The release of the three Israeli hostages today came amid Israeli outrage after Hamas failed to release a civilian, Arbel Yehuda, on Saturday. Israel suspended the opening of the road to the northern Gaza Strip until the announcement of today’s release.
It should be noted that Israel had previously reached out to Qatar and Egypt because of the way the Jan. 30 hostage release was handled. Israeli citizens Arbel Yehud and Gadi Moses were surrounded by a screaming crowd as they were handed over to the Red Cross.
