Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Hamas has agreed to release three Israeli hostages in the first phase of a ceasefire agreement. The agreement also includes the release of Palestinian detainees and the return of displaced Gazans to the northern Gaza Strip. However, concerns remain about the fragile ceasefire after Israeli forces fired on Palestinian crowds, killing at least two people.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that Hamas has agreed to release three Israeli hostages, including civilian Arbel Yehud, soldier Agam Berger, and another unnamed individual. This agreement, reached through firm and determined negotiations led by Netanyahu, will see Hamas release hostages in phases, starting this Thursday. In a statement, Netanyahu's office confirmed that Israel has received a list of hostages slated for release in the first phase.
As part of the deal, Israel will allow displaced Palestinians from central and southern Gaza to return to the northern Gaza Strip beginning Monday morning. Hamas, in its own statement, confirmed handing over details of the hostage release list to mediators involved in the Gaza ceasefire agreement. However, while the international community celebrates this development, concerns remain about the fragile ceasefire. Israeli forces fired warning shots on several occasions over the weekend, killing at least two Palestinians and injuring nine, including a child, according to Palestinian authorities. Israel claimed the shots were fired at suspicious gatherings advancing towards troops.The upcoming agreement, which includes formal negotiations to end the war on day 16 of the ceasefire, also includes the release of all remaining hostages in Gaza in exchange for more freed Palestinian prisoners. Israel is expected to fully withdraw from Gaza during this phase. The agreement also calls for the return of the bodies of deceased hostages and the commencement of a large-scale reconstruction effort in Gaza, overseen by Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations.Large crowds of people have been waiting at roadblocks for days to return to northern Gaza, transporting mattresses, food, and tents that served as shelters for over a year in the central and southern regions. This move comes after former US President Donald Trump suggested the relocation of Gazans, either temporarily or permanently, due to the extensive damage in the region. This statement was widely condemned by the international community, who rejected any infringement on the inalienable rights of Gaza residents, including the right to return to their homes.Earlier reports indicated that the 29-year-old Arbel Yehud was supposed to be released before four female Israeli soldiers, but Hamas has claimed that the mother and two children were killed in an IDF airstrike. However, Hamas has not provided any photographic or video evidence to support its claim, leading many in Israel to believe they may still be alive. Some believe this announcement is a tactic of psychological warfare.
Gaza Ceasefire Hamas Hostages Benjamin Netanyahu Israel Withdrawal Palestinian Detainees Humanitarian Aid
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