‘Noble, Humane Treatment’: Hamas Denounces Israel’s Claims of ‘Humiliating Ceremonies’ During Captive Handovers
Gaza (Quds News Network)- Hamas has rejected Israel’s accusations of “humiliating ceremonies” during the handover of Israeli captives, stating instead that these actions “reflect the noble, humane treatment” of the captives.
In a press release on Sunday, Hamas political bureau member Izzat al-Rishq said the group “strongly condemns the occupation’s decision to delay the release of Palestinian detainees. This decision once again exposes the occupation’s deceptive tactics and its failure to honor its commitments.”
“The occupation’s claim that “handover ceremonies are humiliating” is a baseless accusation and a flimsy excuse designed to evade its obligations under the agreement.”
“The captive handover ceremony does not include any insult to them, but rather reflects the noble humane treatment of them.”
“The true humiliation lies in what our detainees endure during the release process—torture, beatings, and intentional degradation until the very last moment.”
“Palestinian detainees are released with their hands bound and eyes blindfolded, while their families are threatened with the prohibition of any celebrations to welcome their freed loved ones.”
Netanyahu’s decision, the group said, “reflects a deliberate attempt to disrupt the agreement and is a clear violation of its terms. It highlights the occupation’s unreliability in fulfilling its commitments.”
Hamas has called on mediators and the international community to take responsibility and pressure the “occupation to implement the agreement and release the detainees without any further delay.”
Israel has suspended the release of 602 Palestinian detainees as part of the seventh batch of the prisoner exchange deal under the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, allegedly accusing Hamas of violating the ceasefire, despite the latter having handed over six Israeli captives earlier on Saturday.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office announced overnight into Sunday that it would postpone the release of Palestinian detainees, using unsubstantiated claims of Hamas violating the ceasefire agreement as justification.
Accusing Hamas of so-called “humiliating ceremonies” and the “cynical use of hostages for propaganda,” Netanyahu’s office declared that the scheduled release of Palestinian detainees on Saturday would be delayed until Israel secures the next batch of captives.
“In light of Hamas’s repeated violations, including the ceremonies that humiliate our hostages and the cynical exploitation of our hostages for propaganda purposes, it has been decided to delay the release of terrorists that was planned for yesterday until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies,” the office’s statement claimed.
Hamas has condemned Israel for failing to release the seventh batch of Palestinian detainees as part of the agreed exchange deal, calling it a “blatant violation” of the truce.
“While Hamas responded to the efforts of mediators to make the exchange a success, war criminal Netanyahu continues to procrastinate,” Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif Al-Qanou said in a statement on Saturday.
“We call on the mediators and guarantors of the agreement to exert pressure on the occupation to respect the agreement and implement its provisions without procrastination.”
One of the six captives released on Saturday, Omer Shem Tov, kissed the foreheads of two Hamas fighters before his release during the handover.
The emotional gesture has gone viral, with the video circulating widely across Arabic and Hebrew media. Many have highlighted the gesture as a genuine expression of gratitude. The incident has also raised questions about the broader Israeli narrative and the treatment of prisoners.
