Trump supports Israel halting prisoner release, says he will support Israel 'in whatever course of action’ against Hamas

The U.S. declared its support of Israel’s decision to halt the release of some 600 Palestinian prisoners over Hamas's humiliating ceremonies during the release of Israeli hostages, particularly the release of the bodies of the Bibas children.

“Given Hamas' barbaric treatment of the hostages, including the hideous parade of the Bibas children's coffins through the streets of Gaza, Israel's decision to delay the release of prisoners is an appropriate response,” White House national security council spokesman Brian Hughes said in a statement.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had declared Saturday evening that the release of the prisoners, who were already on buses and ready to be transported to release points, would be postponed.

“In light of Hamas's repeated violations, including the ceremonies that humiliate our hostages and the cynical exploitation of our hostages for propaganda purposes, it has been decided to delay the release of terrorists that was planned for yesterday until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies,” Netanyahu’s office stated Sunday.

For now, Israel seems intent to pursue an extension of the current first phase of the hostage deal, in order to reach the release of additional hostages before having to decide over a possible second phase, which would lead to an end of the war.

Hughes stressed that Trump “is prepared to support Israel in whatever course of action it chooses regarding Hamas.”

However, Hamas officials said the terror group would refuse any talks as long as the prisoners are not released.

The around 600 prisoners included a group of 47 terrorists who had been released under the 2011 Shalit deal and were since rearrested. Hamas was reportedly particularly intent on their release.

The decision to halt the prisoners’ release was taken despite the opposing view of the security establishment, Channel 13 reported on Sunday.

According to the report, the late-night security consultation began with a discussion that included all security chiefs, who recommended that the terrorists be released so as not to risk the collapse of the ceasefire.

However, the consultation then continued in a limited setting, with only the cabinet ministers present.

In the end, Netanyahu decided to go against the security establishment’s recommendation to halt the release in order to leverage it in attempt to make Hamas release additional hostages, and to punish it for its conduct.

On Monday morning, former Foreign Minister and current Energy Minister Eli Cohen demanded that Israel should use the prisoners as a bargaining chip, and force Hamas to free Evyatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal, who the terror group forced to watch the release of their companions before returning them to captivity.

“We have enough space in prisons and these terrorists should rot there for the rest of their lives, I will demand in the cabinet the release of Evyatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal before releasing the terrorists,” Cohen vowed.