Israel and Hamas agree on hostage release and ceasefire

The government of Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement to release 50 hostages in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners and a four-day ceasefire.

Hours before the announcement, Hamas had announced that “the ball” was in Israel’s court after the group communicated its position on the deal to brokers in Qatar and Egypt.

All members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s executive branch voted in favor of the switch and the ceasefire, except the three ministers of the Jewish Power Party (Otzma Yehudit), the far-right party, and the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir.

Because the terms of the deal, which Qatar is expected to announce in the coming hours, are not known, information released to Israeli media suggests that the agreement includes the release of at least 50 hostages, mainly children and their mothers, with the possibility that the number would be increased to 80, in addition to a ceasefire of at least four days, which could last a few more days.

Hamas takes hostages to Egypt Every day they cross the border with Rafah in groups of about ten people and are taken from there to Israel.

Israel, in turn, must release about 150 Palestinian prisoners, including in its own country, mainly women and minors who have not been convicted of blood crimes.

The military is also involved. Do not fly over Gaza six hours a day while the ceasefire is in effect so that Hamas can search for hostages from other armed groups such as Islamic Jihad.

Hamas is estimated to be holding between 210 and 240 hostages, while Palestinian Islamic Jihad is holding about 30.

According to the Hebrew press, the agreement would also include access to the Gaza Strip, including the northern part. 100 to 300 trucks with food, medical aid and fuel.

Likewise, according to Israeli public television, a temporary cessation of hostilities will begin on Thursday, allowing 24 hours to file possible appeals against the government’s decision to the Supreme Court.

For its part, Hamas assured that after days of difficult and complex negotiations, with the help and success of Almighty God, it announced that it had declared a humanitarian ceasefire (temporary ceasefire) for a period of four days achieved with the ongoing and ongoing agreement, which was appreciated by the efforts of Qatar and Egypt.

– A ceasefire by both sides, the cessation of all military actions by the occupying army in all areas of the Gaza Strip and the cessation of the movement of its military vehicles into the Gaza Strip.
– Deliver hundreds of trucks of humanitarian, humanitarian, medical and fuel aid to all areas of the Gaza Strip, without exception, in the north and south.
– The release of 50 Israeli women and children under the age of 19 in exchange for the release of 150 women and children of our people from occupation prisons under the age of 19, all based on their seniority.
– Air traffic in the south was paralyzed for four days.
– Air traffic standstill in the North zone for 6 hours a day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
During the ceasefire period, the occupation commits not to attack or arrest anyone in any part of the Gaza Strip.
-Guarantee the freedom of movement of people (from north to south) along Salah El-Din Street.

Hamas added that “the terms of this agreement have been formulated in view of the resistance and its determining factors, with the aim of serving our people and strengthening their steadfastness in the face of aggression, and always taking into account their sacrifices, suffering and worries. “conducted these negotiations from a position of steadfastness and strength on the ground, despite attempts by the occupying power to prolong and postpone the negotiations.

“As we announce the arrival of a ceasefire agreement, we reiterate that our hands remain on the trigger and our victorious battalions remain vigilant to defend our people and defeat the occupation and aggression.

“We pledge to our people that we will remain faithful to their blood, their sacrifices, their patience, their bonds and their quest for liberation, freedom, the restoration of rights and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”

However, the media explained that they could exchange old people and hostages of foreign nationality.

Another point emphasized by the Israeli press is that Hamas must announce the names of the people who will be released a day in advance.

Netanyahu assured the government meeting that the agreement stipulated that the Red Cross would visit the hostages and provide them with medical assistance.

Before the cabinet talks, the prime minister assured that accepting this agreement, which Hamas said had been under discussion for a month, was “a difficult but correct decision.”

However, Netanyahu warned that this ceasefire does not mean the end of the offensive that has left more than 14,000 dead, including more than 5,000 children.

This pause comes after weeks of mounting pressure from the international community and major international organizations, such as the United Nations, to end the incessant attacks that have also displaced more than 1.5 million people.

Israel declared war on Hamas after the Islamist group’s attack on Israel on October 7, which killed more than 1,200 people and kidnapped 240 and took them to Gaza. (EFE)