Israel Katz: 600 jailed Palestinian terrorists "leverage" against Hamas

The Israeli government is reportedly pressuring Hamas to agree to additional exchanges of living Israeli hostages as part of the "humanitarian" category of the hostage deal's first phase, according to a report tonight (Sunday) by Channel 12 News.

According to the report, Israel seeks to secure the release of fathers of children or hostages who are known to be sick or wounded as a consequence of their kidnapping and captivity as "humanitarian" releases akin to a number of hostages released in previous weeks.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had suspended the release of 600 imprisoned Palestinian terrorists in accordance with the exchange agreement yesterday, due to Hamas' failure to procure the body of Shiri Bibas on time and their insistence on subjecting hostages to "humiliating" rituals of affection towards their captors before their release into Israel.

In a meeting with the security chiefs, 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.

Meanwhile, a senior Hamas leader openly said that the holding back of 600 Palestinian imprisoned terrorists constitutes a violation of the hostage deal, and that it is now suspended until further notice. The leader further called on the mediators to intervene, and even denied that the release ceremonies were degrading or humiliating, saying that they showed "compassion" towards the hostages.