Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed “decisive action” to return all remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza, after Hamas on Saturday freed the final living hostages slated for release under the first stage of an increasingly fragile truce.
However, Israel on Saturday night delayed their release “until the release of the next hostages is guaranteed, and without the degrading ceremonies” of the sort seen at handovers of Israeli captives in Gaza, it said in a statement from Mr Netanyahu’s office.
Hamas has said it is open to speeding up the deal and releasing all 61 remaining hostages in one fell swoop during stage two, in return for a permanent ceasefire and a “complete withdrawal” of Israeli troops from Gaza.
Stage one, due to end on March 1, stipulated the return of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, a trade regarded as in the best interests of both Hamas and Israel.
Urgent high-stakes negotiations for stage two are set to begin next week after more than a fortnight’s delay, but experts have warned that the talks are unlikely to go smoothly – and Israel has already begun amassing troops on Gaza’s border in case fighting resumes.
