International media outlets reported on Sunday that families of Palestinian prisoners were left disappointed after the Israeli government postponed the release of the seventh batch of prisoners under the Gaza ceasefire agreement. The families had gathered in Ramallah, in the West Bank, on Saturday morning, hoping to welcome their loved ones, only to learn hours later that the release had been frozen. Israel cited alleged "repeated violations" by Hamas as the reason for the delay.
The New York Times highlighted the growing disappointment among Palestinian families, noting that their hopes were shattered when Palestinian security forces began dismantling barriers and leaving the scene. Meanwhile, Time magazine predicted that the next phase of negotiations between Hamas and Israel would be "difficult and complex," citing concerns from the families of remaining Israeli prisoners in Gaza, who have pressured their government to prevent the agreement from collapsing.
Time also quoted some Israeli prisoners’ families expressing surprise that U.S. President Donald Trump and his Middle East envoy, Steven Witkoff, appeared more concerned about the prisoners’ fate than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In a related development, Le Monde published an article titled “Saving Gaza Means Saving Europe,” criticizing European leaders for their reluctance to openly reject Trump’s proposal to displace Gaza’s population. The article urged Europe to take a more active role in Gaza, warning of a "Syrian precedent" where European hesitation allowed Russia to fill the void. It concluded that a strong European presence in Gaza would benefit Europe’s future.
Meanwhile, The Guardian revealed that UK universities are facing pressure from security agencies to adopt American-style measures to suppress pro-Palestinian student protests, even peaceful ones. The investigation noted that students have faced harsh disciplinary actions under these policies, which human rights organizations have criticized as a threat to free speech and the right to peaceful protest.
Similarly, Bloomberg highlighted the silence of pro-Palestinian activists in the U.S. regarding Trump’s policies toward Gaza. The report pointed out that the movement, which had pressured former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to enforce a ceasefire and halt arms exports to Israel, has largely ignored Trump’s actions.
As tensions rise and negotiations grow more complex, the fate of prisoners and the broader humanitarian situation in Gaza remain uncertain, with international actors facing increasing pressure to address the crisis.
