Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners have been released in previous prisoner exchanges [Ashraf Amra/Anadolu via Getty Images]
Israel has canceled the release of six Palestinians from prison who were set to be released on Saturday after they reportedly refused exile abroad.
The six, whose names have not been reported, were due to be among 97 Palestinian prisoners who are set to be exiled upon release according to Israel’s army radio.
The six are reported to have been rearrested following their release in the 2011 deal that saw Hamas release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners.
Overall, 602 Palestinians, including 445 from Gaza who were detained during the war, will be released following the release of six Israeli captives from Gaza. 47 of those were rearrested following the Shalit deal.
Israeli media have also reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the delay of the general release of Palestinian prisoners, with Israel reportedly informing Palestinian officials in the West Bank that the release will occur at 8 pm.
An Israeli source was quoted by the Times of Israel as saying: “Regarding the delay in the release of the terrorists – following the conclusion of [the prime minister’s] security consultation [tonight], a decision will be made regarding the next steps, and the completion of the return of hostages’ remains at this stage”.
An Israeli source within the government told ToI that the consultations will be “based on the goal of returning all of our hostages – the living and the dead.”
Moreover, photos of the sweaters and bands Palestinian prisoners will be forced to wear have also circulated to the Israeli press, with Haaretz translating the sweaters as reading: “I will pursue my enemies and overtake them, and I will not return until they are destroyed.”
The bracelet was translated to saying: “the eternal people do not forget, I will pursue my enemies and overtake them.”
Israel has previously tried to humiliate Palestinian prisoners by forcing them to wear slogans it has written, some of them taken from the Bible.
In response, released Palestinian prisoners are reported to have engraved messages in their cells reading: “We will not forget, we will not forgive, we will not kneel”, according to Ynet.
As well as the 445 Palestinians from Gaza, whom Haaretz reports were classified in prison as ‘not involved in combat’, 108 people who were serving long-term prison sentences are due to be released.
Al-Jazeera also reported that over 100 Palestinian women and children under the age of 19 are also set to be released.
The release comes after six Israeli captives, including two who were taken captive prior to 7 October 2023 after walking into Gaza voluntarily, were handed over by Hamas.
