Israel, Hamas announce prisoner swap deal

 

The Israeli government and Hamas have agreed to a prisoner exchange deal today.

After around six hours of debating, a deal was approved by the Israeli cabinet under which 50 hostages consisting of children, mothers and elderly women held by Hamas in Gaza will be released in exchange for a four-day ceasefire, Anadolu Agency reported citing the Israeli Broadcasting Authority.

The pause in fighting would extend an extra day for every 10 additional hostages Hamas releases.

During the cabinet meeting, the ministers were informed that the first group of captives will be released tomorrow.

The government said this is the plan for the first phase, to return the captives to their homes.

While the Israeli Broadcasting Authority did not indicate the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released in return, the Hebrew Channel 12 said earlier that as part of the agreement, 150 Palestinian prisoners will be released and 300 trucks of humanitarian supplies including fuel will enter daily.

Hamas announced reaching a humanitarian de-escalation for four days with Israel after “difficult and complex negotiations for long days… with diligent and appreciated Qatari and Egyptian efforts”.

"According to the agreement, there will be a ceasefire by both parties, a cessation of all military actions by the occupation army in all areas of the Gaza Strip and a halt to the movement of its military vehicles penetrating into the Gaza Strip," it said.

Aid to enter Gaza

Hundreds of trucks carrying humanitarian relief, medical and fuel aid will be allowed into all areas of Gaza without exception, according to Hamas.

The agreement includes “the release of 50 women and children of the occupation detainees under the age of 19 in exchange for the release of 150 women and children of our people from the occupation prisons under the age of 19, all according to seniority”.

The de-escalation also includes "stopping air traffic in the south of the Gaza Strip for four days and stopping air traffic in the north for six hours a day from 10am until 4pm".

Hamas stressed that “during the truce period, the occupation is committed not to attack or arrest anyone in all areas of the Gaza Strip” in addition to “ensuring the freedom of movement of people from north to south along Salah al-Din Street”.

“While we announce reaching a de-escalation agreement, we affirm that our hands will remain on the trigger and we promise our people that we will remain loyal to their blood, their sacrifices and their aspirations for liberation, freedom and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital,” it added.

Israel estimates that at least 239 Israelis are being held by Hamas following its cross-border attack on Oct 7.

The Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has soared to 14,128, the Health Ministry in the blockaded enclave said Tuesday.

“The victims include over 5,840 children and 3,920 women,” the ministry added in a statement.

Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques and churches, have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel’s air and ground attacks on the besieged enclave.

- Bernama