Hamas official Ghazi Hamad accused Israel of manipulating prisoner lists ahead of a ceasefire-for-hostages exchange while urging pressure to ensure the deal proceeds.
Senior Hamas political bureau member Ghazi Hamad has accused Israel of “playing with and changing” the lists of Palestinian prisoners slated for release under an emerging ceasefire-for-hostages deal. He warned that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would “return to aggression” in Gaza without firm international pressure.
Hamad urged Arab states and mediators to “restrain the Zionist madness” and ensure full implementation of the agreement. He said Hamas was coordinating with Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, and in contact with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), to conduct the exchange “as stated in the agreement,” but claimed Israeli delays in verifying names were hindering progress.
Despite the disputes, he said the process was “moving in a good direction.” Reports indicate 20 Israeli hostages are expected to be released on Monday in parallel with large-scale Palestinian prisoner releases.