The Israeli government has agreed to a multi-day ceasefire in the Gaza war in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages. The Israeli cabinet approved an agreement with the Islamist Hamas on Wednesday evening, a government spokesman said. Since Hamas had already agreed to the deal, it is now being closed.
These are the most important questions and answers:
What was agreed?
According to media reports, the agreement contains several points:
The agreement should also include one possible extension of the ceasefire provided. Hamas would then have to release ten additional hostages every day. Israel assumes that a total of 80 hostages can be released. However, Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized that the war would continue even after the agreement was implemented, “until we achieve all our goals.”
In Israel it is expected that the The gradual release of the fifty hostages will begin on Thursday could be. Between 10 and 13 hostages are to be released on each day of the cessation of fighting. The army’s aerial surveillance over the Gaza Strip will also be halted for six hours a day.
Channel 12 Television reported that Israeli hospitals were prepared for the arrival of the abductees. They must therefore be taken from the Gaza Strip via the Rafah border crossing to Egypt and from there by helicopter to Israel.
What do we know about the hostages and the prisoners?
According to Israeli media, that would be the case 30 children, eight mothers and twelve older women action. It was initially unclear whether these were also Israelis with a second passport. According to the US government, at least three American women are expected to be involved. A US government official said the victims were a three-year-old girl and two women. It remained unclear whether the three Americans also have Israeli passports.
According to information from the Times of Israel, the hostages will return to the city or town where they lived before their detention, including in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Four female hostages have been released by Hamas since the start of the war. A young female soldier was released from the army. The army also found the bodies of two women. Among the abductees are numerous foreigners or people with dual nationality, including several Germans. It is unclear how many are still alive.
Little is known about the prisoners who will be released from Israeli prisons. According to Hamas, the total of 150 prisoners are women and prisoners under the age of 19.
Who was involved in the deal and how did it come about?
The deal was preceded by weeks of negotiations. In recent weeks, the Gulf state of Qatar has mediated between Israel and the Islamist terrorist group Hamas in consultation with the US.
According to information from the White House, Israel has from the beginning pushed for the release of all women and children held by Hamas. During the negotiations, Hamas initially provided insufficient information about the capture of women and children. said a US government official. Qatar subsequently made it clear that this information was not sufficient for an agreement.
Shortly afterwards, Hamas promised to release fifty women and children and presented a corresponding list. However, the US government assumes that there are other women and children among the hostages. According to the US, Hamas has broken off negotiations using “various excuses”. Eventually the talks resumed. “The agreement was ultimately structured to provide incentives for the release of more than 50 hostages,” the U.S. representative said.
Hamas had previously announced that it had given its consent to mediators in Egypt and Qatar.
Is there anything standing in the way of the deal?
No. Relatives of Israeli terror victims can appeal against the release of prisoners to the Supreme Court within 24 hours, according to a government spokesman. However, the Supreme Court is not expected to take action against the government’s decision.
According to media reports, no prisoners convicted of murder should be released. According to the government spokesperson, parliament does not have to approve the agreement.
Israel had already agreed to a prisoner swap with Hamas in 2011. At the time, Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit was released after five years in Hamas captivity in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. Among the released prisoners was the current head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Jihia al-Sinwar. (lacquer/sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
