Tel Aviv: In a major development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Friday that an agreement had been reached between Israel and Gaza for the return of hostages, signaling a possible end to months of violence. . T
The deal, brokered by Qatar, the United States and Egypt, aims to end hostilities by facilitating the phased release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
The Prime Minister’s Office said that under the cease-fire agreement, Hamas would release 33 Israeli prisoners, including civilians, soldiers and children, in exchange for 50 Palestinian prisoners for each female soldier and 50 Palestinian prisoners for each civilian. 30 Palestinian prisoners will be released.
Additionally, Israel has agreed to release all Palestinian women and children under the age of 19 detained since the October 7, 2023 attack. As part of the deal, Israel will allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, up to 600 trucks a day, and gradually allow unarmed Palestinians to return to the northern parts of the Gaza Strip.
Despite the apparent progress, Netanyahu’s office expressed concerns about potential complications, accusing Hamas of trying to secure additional concessions at the last minute. The fragile deal comes after 15 months of intense conflict, during which the humanitarian crisis for both Israelis and Palestinians has worsened.
If the first phase is successful, the second phase will involve the release of all remaining captives, mainly male soldiers, and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. This includes withdrawal from the militarized Philadelphia Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border, as well as further de-escalation measures.
The final phase of the agreement is expected to focus on the return of the bodies of those killed during the conflict and the establishment of a multi-year reconstruction plan for Gaza, overseen by international organizations.
While the United States has expressed confidence that a cease-fire will begin by Sunday, Netanyahu has ordered a meeting of Israel’s security cabinet to discuss next steps. However, the deal is still awaiting approval by the full Israeli government, which is expected to meet soon.
