Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described on Thursday the way Hamas handled the release of hostages agreed upon the conditions of the latest ceasefire as shocking, unacceptable, and another evidence of the organization's "unimaginable cruelty."
In a statement, Netanyahu urged the mediators to "ensure that such horrific scenes do not occur again, and to guarantee the safety of our hostages." He also warned that "whoever dares to harm our hostages — will pay."
Netanyahu's remarks came after Hamas released two Israeli and five Thai civilians in public, in front of a seemingly loud group that disrupted the handover to the Red Cross. Meanwhile, Channel 12 reported that Israel halted the release of some Palestinian prisoners in response to the issue.