Israel: We'll released the 600 Palestinian terrorists - on this condition

Israel has reportedly informed the hostage deal mediators that it will release the 620 Palestinian terrorists whose freedom was delayed - if the four slain hostages are released today, and without the propaganda ceremonies used for the Bibas family and Oded Lifshitz.

According to Kann reporter Roi Kais, efforts are ongoing over the impasse regarding the 620 Palestinian terrorists whose scheduled release last week was delayed due to the failure to procure Shiri Bibas at once and the "degrading" and "humiliating" ceremonies used to display the Bibas family and Oded Lifshitz.

These ceremonies included labels on their coffins showing their "date of arrest" in Hebrew, English, and Arabic, as though they were criminals instead of civilians who were forcibly taken hostage from their homes.

The prisoners were also detained due to the decision by Gazan terrorist groups, including Hamas, to send an anonymous Gazan woman to be buried rather than Shiri Bibas, a decision which led to an outcry in Israel and a halt to the hostage deal exchanges. The halt was only ended when the actual Shiri Bibas was delivered to Israel for identification and burial.

President Donald Trump's NSC Spokesperson Brian Hughes told i24 News yesterday (Sunday) that in light of Hamas' "barbaric" treatment of the hostages, including the parading of the Bibas family in black coffins in the streets of Gaza, Israel's decision to delay the release of the Palestinian terrorists is an "appropriate response."

In a meeting with the security chiefs the same day, Netanyahu was told that suspending the release of the prisoners had the potential to "collapse" the hostage deal and damage any attempt to get any additional hostages out.

The Prime Minister then met with the security cabinet of Shas leader Aryeh Deri, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, and Defense Minister Israel Katz.

There, Katz argued that the 600 prisoners currently being held instead of released - at least until tomorrow - were necessary "leverage" against Hamas, after its failure to release slain hostage Shiri Bibas and its treatment of the living hostages prior to their release into Israel. It now appears that they are being used as leverage to both end the ceremonies and secure the early release of four slain hostages.