Israel: Protesters Gather Outside Netanyahu’s Office as Cabinet Discusses Hamas Hostage Release Delay

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, demanding the return of every hostage as the security cabinet convened at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in Jerusalem to discuss Israel’s response to Hamas’s postponement of the hostage release.

According to a Times of Israel report, Netanyahu held an assessment with security officials on the situation before the meeting.

Expressing their anger at the government, protesters banged on drums, held placards, and wore yellow ribbons and flags. Some demonstrators dipped their hands in red paint, symbolizing the blood of those lost on October 7, 2023, and in Gazan captivity. Chanting, “We will not abandon them,” they called for action to bring the hostages home.

On Monday, Hamas announced an indefinite postponement of the next hostage-prisoner exchange under the fragile truce agreement with Israel, accusing the country of failing to comply with its terms.

AFP quoted Abu Ubaida, spokesman for the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, as saying in a statement: “The release of the prisoners (Israeli hostages), which was scheduled for next Saturday, February 15, 2025, will be postponed until further notice, pending the occupation’s compliance and retroactive fulfilment of the past weeks’ obligations.”

He further stated, “We reaffirm our commitment to the terms of the agreement as long as the occupation adheres to them.”

As part of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, which began on January 19, 33 Israeli hostages were to be released in exchange for nearly 1,900 prisoners, primarily Palestinians held in Israeli jails.

On Saturday, the fifth hostage-prisoner exchange was completed, leading to the release of three Israeli hostages and 183 Palestinian prisoners.

Following this exchange, 73 of the 251 hostages taken during the October 7 attack remain in Gaza, including 34 whom the Israeli military reports are deceased.

Hamas stated, “We have closely monitored the enemy’s violations and failure to abide by the terms of the agreement over the past three weeks.” The group accused Israel of “delaying the return of displaced people to northern Gaza, targeting them with shelling and gunfire across various areas of the (Gaza) Strip, and failing to allow the entry of humanitarian aid in all its forms as agreed upon.” Hamas also insisted that it had “fulfilled all its obligations.”

However, Israel pushed back, stating that delaying the hostage release is in “complete violation of the agreement.”