Hostage exchange deal reached amid fragile ceasefire
Hamas has announced an agreement with Israel, ending the deadlock over the exchange of hostages and their remains for Palestinian prisoners. According to "Haaretz," on Wednesday evening, Hamas is set to return the bodies of four hostages, and in return, Israel will release 602 Palestinians. This exchange is part of a temporary ceasefire that has been in place since January 19.
Israel was supposed to release 602 Palestinians on Saturday, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu halted the exchange due to allegations that Hamas violated truce agreements. Hamas had reportedly organized propaganda events during the transfer of prisoners and their remains. Despite these issues, the exchange will occur this Wednesday at the Kerem Shalom border crossing.
Up to this point, Hamas has handed over 25 hostages and four bodies, while Israel has released 1,135 Palestinians. These actions are part of the initial stage of the truce, which is expected to conclude at the beginning of March. The prospects for the second phase of the ceasefire, which would involve a permanent truce and the release of all kidnapped individuals, remain uncertain.
Prolonged conflict
Israel seeks to extend the first stage of the truce to facilitate more exchanges of hostages for prisoners without committing to a complete resolution of the war. Hamas has indicated a readiness to extend the ceasefire until the end of Ramadan. The agreement for the forthcoming exchange was reached in Cairo, with participation from Egypt, the USA, and Qatar.
The war in the Gaza Strip has been ongoing since October 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, with 251 individuals kidnapped. Over 48,000 residents of the Gaza Strip have been killed in the fighting, and the region is now facing a humanitarian crisis.
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