Israel altered prisoner lists, warns Netanyahu will renew war
Senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad accused Israel of changing prisoner lists as part of deal, warning Netanyahu could resume war in Gaza
Ghazi Hamad, a senior Hamas politburo official, speaking to Al Jazeera from Cairo on Sunday evening, accused Israel of “toying with and altering” the lists of Palestinian prisoners scheduled for release under the new hostage ceasefire, and warned that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would “return to aggression” in Gaza without sustained international pressure.
He urged Arab states and mediators to “contain Zionist madness” and ensure full implementation of the agreement.
Hamad said Hamas was coordinating with Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, and was in contact with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), to carry out the exchange “as outlined in the agreement”, but alleged that Israeli delays in verifying names on documents sent to the parties were creating obstacles.
He nevertheless said the process was “going in the right direction” and that Hamas would “do everything in its power” to make the prisoner exchange and broader deal successful.
His claims come amid growing controversies over prisoner lists. Israel’s Justice Ministry released 250 names of Palestinian prisoners to be released under the deal, while Palestinian officials said no final list had been agreed upon, highlighting ongoing friction over the criteria and sequence of releases.
Hamas politburo member Ghazi Hamad delivers a speech on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, during a news conference in Beirut, Lebanon October 28, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/AMR ALFIKY)
An Al Jazeera Arab report published on Sunday also amplified Palestinian claims that Israel was trying to impose its own conditions on the prisoners’ file, with sources saying Hamas was continuing contacts through Cairo, Doha and Ankara to modify the list released by Israel.
The ICRC reiterated that any exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners must be carried out safely and with dignity, emphasizing the organization’s neutral role in transfers and family reunifications under the ceasefire.
20 Israeli hostages will be released
The remarks come as Israel and Hamas prepare for the next phase of the deal. Israeli officials and international media reported that 20 live Israeli hostages were expected to be released on Monday alongside large-scale prisoner releases, as part of a broader truce negotiated with the help of Egypt, Qatar and Turkey.
Hamad’s interview echoes previous Hamas statements describing Netanyahu as a “war criminal,” rhetoric the group has repeatedly used while rejecting Israeli conditions related to disarmament or post-war governance arrangements in Gaza.
Under the terms of the ceasefire announced over the weekend, Israel has transferred detainees for release, while international agencies step up humanitarian operations inside Gaza. Disagreements over specific names and categories of prisoners have persisted in recent days, including last-minute changes approved by the Israeli government regarding the first batches.
