Israel delays Palestinian prisoner release after Hamas' 'humiliating' treatment of hostages, Netanyahu says
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Israel will delay the seventh hostage-prisoner exchange in protest of Hamas’ “humiliating” treatment of hostages, according to Israeli officials.

The release of 620 Palestinian prisoners, which was scheduled for Saturday, has been postponed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On Sunday morning, Netanyahu’s office issued a statement condemning Hamas propaganda generated during the exchange.

“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 said.

The statement came after reports of Hamas fighters exploiting Israeli prisoners while they were being released. On Saturday, five of the six freed hostages were accompanied by armed militants in front of a crowd, including three Israeli hostages who posed alongside terrorists.

Palestinians watching hostage hand over

Palestinian Hamas militants gather at the site of the handing over of the bodies of four Israeli hostages in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza Thursday. (Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking to Fox News Digital, Israeli United Nations Ambassador Danny Danon called the gesture “evil and depraved.”

“For 16 months, Israel has been fighting a deranged terrorist organization that places no value on human life, especially if it is Israeli or Jewish — all while international institutions like the U.N. refrained from condemning Hamas and formally demanding the immediate return of our hostages,” Danon said.

The United Nations also condemned the coffin incident.

Tel Aviv demonstration in honor of Alon Ohel's 24th birthday

Israelis stand under placards with photos of hostages during a Feb. 10 rally marking the 24th birthday of Alon Ohel, who is held hostage by Hamas at hostages square. (Eyal Warshavsky/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

“Under international law, any handover of the remains of [the] deceased must comply with the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, ensuring respect for the dignity of the deceased and their families,” the United Nations Geneva said on X, attributing the quote to High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

The Associated Press and Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.

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