2023-11-22 01:14:43
The Government of Israel accepted this Tuesday the agreement with the Islamist group Hamas for the release of 50 kidnapped people in the Gaza Strip, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners and a four-day truce.
(In context: What is known about the possible truce between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip)
Hours before the announcement, Hamas had already announced that “the ball” was “in Israel’s court” after the group informed mediators in Qatar and Egypt of its position on the agreement.
(You can read: Brics leaders call for a ‘sustained humanitarian truce’ in the Gaza Strip)
“The government approved the broad outlines of the first stage of an agreement according to which at least 50 kidnapped people (women and children) will be released for four days during which there will be a respite in the fighting,” according to an official statement. From Israel.
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However, in the statement Israel says it will “continue its war” against Hamas after the truce.
“A lot of nonsense is being said out there like that after the pause to return our hostages, we will stop the war. Let’s be clear: we are at war and we will continue the war. We will continue the war until we achieve all our war objectives : Eliminate Hamas, return all our hostages and missing people and ensure that there is no element in Gaza that threatens Israel,” Netanyahu said before the meeting.
All members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s executive voted in favor of the exchange and the truce except the three ministers of the Jewish Power Party (Otzma Yehudit), of the right-wing National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir.
Netanyahu had told his government earlier Tuesday that accepting an agreement for the release of hostages kidnapped by Hamas in the October 7 attack is “a complicated decision, but it is a right decision.”
US President Joe Biden contributed to “improving the framework he proposed to them (…) to include more hostages at a lower cost,” Netanyahu declared at a meeting dedicated to the agreement. “The entire security apparatus fully supports him,” he added.
(Read also: Hamas assures that it is ‘close to reaching a truce agreement’ with Israel)
The families of the hostages demand that Israel request the release of all those kidnapped.
In the absence of the terms of the agreement being known, which Qatar is expected to announce in the next few hours, information leaked to Israeli media indicates that the pact includes the release of a minimum of 50 hostages, mostly children and their mothers, with the possibility that the number will expand to 80, in addition to a ceasefire of at least four days, which could be extended for several more days.
(You can read: UN Secretary denounces ‘unprecedented’ massacre of minors in the Gaza Strip)
Hamas will take the hostages to Egypt through the Rafah crossing in daily groups of about ten and, from there, they will be transferred to Israel.
For its part, Israel must release some 150 Palestinian prisoners, also mostly women and minors who are not convicted of blood crimes.
In addition, the Army agrees not to fly over the Gaza Strip for six hours a day while the truce is in force to allow Hamas to locate hostages held by other armed groups, such as Islamic Jihad.
(Also read: Israel announces discovery of a Hamas fortified tunnel under the Shifa hospital in Gaza)
Hamas welcomed the “humanitarian truce” agreement approved by Israel. “The provisions of this agreement were formulated in accordance with the vision of resistance and determination that seek to serve our people and reinforce their tenacity in the face of aggression,” the Islamist group said in a statement. “We confirm that our fingers will continue to be on the triggers and that our triumphant battalions will remain on the lookout,” he added.
The exchange would take place at a rate of “10” Israeli hostages per day against “30” Palestinian prisoners and would also include the entry of food, medical assistance and fuel into Gaza, in addition to a “five-day humanitarian truce.”
By some estimates, Hamas is holding between 210 and 240 hostages, while the Palestinian Islamic Jihad is holding around 30.
(You can read: Israel and Palestine: books to understand the conflict and dream of peace)
The agreement would also include, according to the Hebrew press, the entry into the Strip, including the northern part, of 100 to 300 trucks with food and medical aid, as well as fuel.
Likewise, according to Israeli public television, the temporary cessation of hostilities will begin on Thursday to allow 24 hours for the presentation of possible appeals to the government decision before the Supreme Court.
No soldiers or men will be released nor will the bodies of deceased hostages be recovered. However, the media stated that they could exchange elderly men and hostages with foreign nationality.
(Also read: The vice president of Israel’s parliament asks to ‘burn Gaza’ and not send fuel)
Another point highlighted by the Israeli press is that Hamas must provide the names of the people who will be released one day in advance.
This pause comes after weeks of increasing pressure from the international community and major international organizations, such as the United Nations, to stop the incessant attacks, which have also left more than 1.5 million displaced.
Israel declared war on Hamas following the attack launched by the Islamist group against Israel on October 7, in which more than 1,200 people were killed and 240 were kidnapped and taken to Gaza.
(Also: Hamas denies using hospitals as captivity centers and announces the death of another hostage)
INTERNATIONAL EDITORIAL
*With information from EFE and AFP
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