![Families of Palestinians to be released as part of the seventh round of the prisoner/hostage swap deal between Hamas and Israel gathered to welcome their relatives in Ramallah, West Bank on February 23, 2025. [Issam Rimawi - Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/AA-20250222-37138035-37138024-PALESTINIAN_FAMILIES_WAIT_FOR_THEIR_RELATIVES_TO_BE_RELEASED_IN_RAMALLAH-2-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
Israel suspended the release of Palestinian prisoners Saturday in the seventh batch in a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal in the Gaza Strip, citing Hamas’ delivery of a wrong body instead of detained Israeli Shiri Bibas on Thursday, Anadolu Agency reports.
According to Israeli public broadcaster KAN, Israeli officials said the government decided to halt the release after Hamas handed over the body of a Palestinian woman in place of Bibas.
KAN later said the Palestinian prisoners would be released in the late hours of the night “based on recommendations from the Israeli political leadership.”
Israel received four bodies Thursday as part of the exchange. The Israeli Forensic Institute confirmed three belonged to Oded Lifshitz, Kfir Bibas and Ariel Bibas, as agreed. The fourth body, however, did not belong to Shiri Bibas.
Hamas delivered Bibas’ body on Friday, which was later identified by the Israeli Forensic Institute.
READ: Shiri Bibas’ remains may have been mixed with others under Gaza rubble, says Hamas
Earlier, KAN reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held security consultations Saturday on negotiations for the second phase of the Gaza agreement, delaying the prisoner exchange.
Israeli authorities were set to release 620 Palestinian prisoners as part of the seventh batch of the first phase of the deal.
Earlier in the day, the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, handed over six Israeli captives to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Rafah, Nuseirat and Gaza City.
The ceasefire deal took effect last month, halting Israel’s genocidal war, which has killed more than 48,300 people, mostly women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
READ: US president claims hostages released by Hamas ‘not in great shape’
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