PM’s office: ‘Peak of absurdity’ to claim Hamas sped up hostage release to get Palestinian prisoners out before deal collapses

Responding to reports by Israeli media yesterday, including Channel 12, that Hamas initiated the accelerated release of Israeli hostages to ensure it would get key Palestinian security inmates out of Israeli prisons before talks fall apart, the Prime Minister’s Office calls the claims “a new peak of absurdity and echo of Hamas propaganda.”

“About two weeks ago, the prime minister defined the goal of releasing the remaining living hostages of Phase A in one tranche instead of two,” says the PMO, adding that the expected release of all six remaining living hostages in the first stage on Saturday was the result of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “firm stance,” the increase of IDF forces around Gaza, and US President Donald Trump’s demand that all the hostages go free.

“Let’s recall that Hamas announced its refusal to release our hostages and thereby violate the deal – and only Israel’s resolute stance led to Hamas’s collapse,” says the PMO.