Israel Faces Internal Dispute as Hamas Suspends Prisoner Exchange

 

Israel Faces Internal Dispute as Hamas Suspends Prisoner Exchange

## **Political and Public Reactions to Hamas' Decision**  

The recent **decision by Hamas’ military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, to halt prisoner exchanges with Israel indefinitely** has sparked intense political debate in **Tel Aviv**. While some officials **blame Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu**, others call for **a renewed military offensive against Gaza**.  

### **Concerns Over the Halted Deal**  

Israel's **Channel 12** cited a high-ranking source who acknowledged the **concern** but suggested that **a resolution is still possible**. The source argued:  

> *"If someone wanted to sabotage the deal, they would do so at the last moment, not five days before, leaving room for negotiations."*  

This statement indicates that Hamas may be **pressuring mediators and Washington** to **secure better conditions** for Gaza’s residents in the next phase of the deal.  

### **Israeli Officials Divided**  

Reactions from **Israeli politicians** have been divided:  

- **National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir**, who recently resigned from Netanyahu’s government, supported former U.S. President **Donald Trump’s stance**, writing on **X (formerly Twitter)**:  

  > *"Trump is right; we must return to destruction now."*  

- **Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich** expressed his stance with a cryptic post, simply stating:  

  > *"Everyone, now."*  

- **Opposition leader Yair Lapid** blamed Netanyahu, saying:  

  > *"Hamas’ delay in releasing hostages is a direct response to Netanyahu’s refusal to advance to the second phase of the deal."*  

  He emphasized that completing the **full prisoner exchange agreement** is crucial to **saving the remaining captives**.  

### **Families of Hostages Hold Netanyahu Responsible**  

The **Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Radio** interviewed the brother of a hostage held in Gaza, who criticized the Israeli government:  

> *"Netanyahu is the one who failed the deal by not moving forward with the second phase. If the agreement is not progressing, why would Hamas release more hostages?"*  

### **Hamas’ Justification for the Suspension**  

In a televised statement, **Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obeida** announced the **postponement of Saturday's scheduled hostage release**, citing **continuous Israeli violations of the agreement**.  

Despite **ongoing international mediation**, Israel has **not yet committed to negotiations** for the second phase of the ceasefire and **prisoner exchange agreement**.  

### **Future of the Agreement and the Gaza War**  

According to the **original deal**, the Israeli military was expected to:  

- Begin **withdrawing from the Philadelphi Corridor** on **March 1, 2025**.  

- Complete the withdrawal within **eight days**.  

- Move into **the second phase**, which would effectively **end the war in Gaza**.  

However, Israel’s reluctance to **proceed with these terms** has cast doubt over whether the **exchange and ceasefire** will move forward as planned.  

## **Conclusion**  

The suspension of the **prisoner swap** has **deepened political tensions in Israel**, with government officials, opposition leaders, and families of hostages offering conflicting perspectives. Meanwhile, Hamas is leveraging the deal to push for **better conditions for Gaza**, making **international mediation efforts more urgent**.  

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