Israel is making the right decision to delay the release of more than 600 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages released by Hamas this week, but the choice was a difficult one, retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Blaine Holt said Sunday on Newsmax.

“No one should kid themselves about the difficulty of decisions that [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and the Israelis have to make now,” said Holt on Newsmax’s “Sunday Report.” “Hamas is a bunch of bloodthirsty terrorists. They are not partners who negotiate in good faith.”

Netanyahu said Saturday that he is delaying the release of the 600 Palestinian prisoners, citing “Hamas’s repeated violations, including the ceremonies that humiliate our hostages and the cynical exploitation of our hostages for propaganda purposes.”

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