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On Saturday morning, Sherine al-Hamamreh left her hometown of Husan, near Bethlehem, with the expectation of reuniting with her brother, Izz al-Deen al-Hamamreh. He has spent 21 years behind bars, serving nine life sentences. However, what was supposed to be a moment of joy turned into disappointment.
“We truly believed Izz al-Deen and the others would be freed, but once again, the occupation has used its power to prolong our suffering,” Sherine said. “This is just another way to torment both the prisoners and their families.”
Adeeb al-Saifi, whose son, Ahmad al-Saifi, has been in prison for 16 years out of his 20-year sentence, shared similar sentiments. “We have been waiting for this day for so long, but today, we are left with nothing but uncertainty. The pain of waiting never really ends,” he said.
Earlier that day, five of six Israeli hostages were released, with their return taking place in carefully staged public events. Armed militants, wearing masks, escorted them before large crowds, drawing criticism from organizations like the United Nations and the Red Cross. These groups condemned the orchestrated nature of the handovers, calling them a form of psychological distress.
In response, Israeli authorities issued a statement denouncing the way the exchange was handled, claiming it was intended to “humiliate the hostages and use them for propaganda.” One widely shared video showed two captives—still awaiting release—watching the handover while appearing to speak under coercion.
The six individuals freed that day were expected to be the final hostages released under the initial phase of the ceasefire, which still has a week remaining. Negotiations regarding the next phase of the agreement have yet to commence. Those released included three men who had been taken from the Nova music festival and another individual who was captured while visiting family in southern Israel during the October 7, 2023, attack. The remaining two had been detained for over a decade after voluntarily entering Gaza.
Israeli officials did not immediately comment on the reason for the delay in releasing Palestinian prisoners. Meanwhile, Hamas spokesperson Abdel Latif Al-Qanou accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deliberately stalling, alleging a violation of the agreement.
The prisoner exchange deal is expected to involve 620 Palestinian detainees, including 151 individuals serving life sentences or long-term imprisonment for attacks on Israelis. Nearly 100 of them face the possibility of deportation, according to the Palestinian prisoners’ media office.
Among those anticipated to be freed is Nael Barghouti, who has been incarcerated for over 45 years due to his involvement in an attack that resulted in the death of an Israeli bus driver. The broader list also includes 445 adult men, 23 minors between the ages of 15 and 19, and one woman. Many of them were detained in Gaza during the war without formal charges.
