Media reported on the instruction to Israeli prisons to suspend the release of Palestinian prisoners

The Israeli Prison Authority has been instructed by the country's authorities to halt the release of Palestinian prisoners in today's exchange with the radical Palestinian movement Hamas. This was reported on January 30 by Ynet portal, citing security sources.

It is noted that authorities ordered the detention of a convoy of buses carrying prisoners released from an Israeli prison as part of a deal to return kidnapped hostages.

"The buses stopped and stood still long after they had already managed to leave Ofer prison. After that, the convoy started to return," the media outlet noted.

Taking prisoners: Red Cross ready to help free Gaza hostages

Hamas and Israel accuse each other of stalling negotiations

Earlier on January 30, it was reported that Hamas handed over seven hostages to the IDF (IDF) and the General Security Service (Shin Bet, Shabak). It added that Israeli army commanders and soldiers welcomed the returned hostages on their way home. The IDF press office called for respecting the privacy of those returned from Hamas captivity. It was specified that the released hostages-Israelis - 29-year-old Arbel Yehud and 80-year-old Gadi Moses, as well as five citizens of Thailand.

It also became known that another hostage was handed over to the Israeli military, it is 19-year-old IDF soldier Agam Berger.

Prior to that, on January 19, the first phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect. During this phase of the deal, which will last 42 days, 33 Israeli hostages and some 1,900 Palestinians are to be released. On the same day, the movement released three hostages in exchange for 90 Palestinian prisoners, and on January 26, four military girls were handed over to the Red Cross.

The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip into Israel. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.