JEWISH PRESS
Israel Retaliates for Maltreatment of Hostages During Release from Gaza
Hana Levi Julian
January 30, 2025

The State of Israel retaliated Thursday for the maltreatment of its hostages during their release from captivity in Gaza, slow-walking the release of 100 terrorist prisoners — including 33 serving life sentences — over the issue. The prisoners were to be released once the freed hostages reached Israeli territory, but instead the buses were ordered to turn around and return to Ofer and Ketziot prisons. “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, together with Defense Minister Israel Katz, has ordered that the release of the terrorists slated to be released today be delayed until the safe exit of our hostages in the next phases is assured,” read a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office. “Israel demands that the mediators see to this.” READ MORE