Hamas-Israel exchange deal resumes amid fragile ceasefire
Hamas announced it had reached an agreement with Israel, ending the deadlock in the exchange of hostages and their remains for Palestinian prisoners. According to "Haaretz", Hamas is set to hand over the bodies of four hostages on Wednesday evening, and Israel will release 602 Palestinians. This exchange is part of a temporary ceasefire effective since 19th January.
Israel was supposed to release 602 Palestinians on Saturday, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu halted the exchange due to Hamas violating truce agreements. Hamas organised propaganda spectacles during the transfer of prisoners and their remains. Nevertheless, the exchange is scheduled for Wednesday at the Kerem Shalom border crossing.
Thus far, Hamas has handed over 25 hostages and four bodies, while Israel has released 1,135 Palestinians. These actions are part of the first stage of the truce, which is set to end at the beginning of March. The second phase of the ceasefire, involving a permanent truce and the release of all kidnapped individuals, remains uncertain.
Prolonged conflict
Israel aims to extend the first stage of the truce to exchange more hostages for prisoners without negotiating an overall end to the war. Hamas is willing to extend the ceasefire until the end of Ramadan. The agreement for the upcoming exchange was reached in Cairo, with participation from Egypt, the USA, and Qatar.
The war in the Gaza Strip has been ongoing since October 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel. The conflict has resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, and 251 people have been kidnapped. Over 48,000 residents of the Gaza Strip have lost their lives in the fighting, and the territory is devastated and experiencing a humanitarian crisis.
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