Israel and Hamas Agree on Ceasefire and Hostage Swap Deal
In an unexpected turn of events, the Israeli government has agreed to a temporary truce in the ongoing Gaza conflict and a hostage exchange deal with Islamist group Hamas. The deal was announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Wednesday night, after a majority cabinet vote in favor of the agreement.
Both sides are primarily concerned with the release of women and minor children, who have been caught in the tumultuous conflict. Social media platforms like Facebook's Instant Articles and other news outlets have been abuzz with this breaking news. Desk Delta's Politics Abroad section is currently providing updates on the deal's specifics.
Getting into the nuts and bolts of the agreement, it consists of a three-phase process.
Phase 1:
Hostage Release:
Hamas, for their part, has agreed to release 33 Israeli hostages over six weeks. The hostages will include 12 women and children, along with senior citizens and injured civilians. The releases will occur in three sets: one initial set of three hostages, followed by four more in the seventh day, and another set of three hostages every seven days, ending with the last 14 hostages in the final week.
In the first set, three female hostages - Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher - were freed on January 19. On the 25th, four hostages - Naama Levy, Liri Albag, Daniella Gilboa, and Karina Ariev - gained their freedom. Subsequently, three more hostages and five Thai hostages were released on January 30. Finally, on February 1, three hostages - Keith Siegel, Ofer Kalderon, and Yarden Bibas - returned home.
Prisoner Release:
Israel, in response, will release up to 1,904 Palestinian security prisoners, including 737 serving life terms for terrorism-related offenses. On January 20, 90 Palestinian prisoners were released, including Palestinian politician Khalida Jarrar.
Humanitarian Aid:
Israel will permit the daily entry of 600 humanitarian aid trucks, including 50 fuel trucks to support essential services like power plants, trade, and hospital operations.
Withdrawal and Return:
Israel is expected to withdraw from certain parts of the Gaza Strip, allowing displaced Palestinians to return to their homes in northern Gaza. However, Israel will retain control over the strategic Philadelphi Corridor to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons.
Phase 2:
Negotiations for the second phase of the agreement will begin 16 days after the implementation of Phase 1. The aim is to achieve a permanent ceasefire with the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip.
Hostage Release:
Hamas will release the remaining alive male Israeli hostages in exchange for an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners.
Permanent Ceasefire:
Both sides must commit to and announce a "sustainable calm" and the final withdrawal of Israeli soldiers from the Gaza Strip.
Phase 3:
Remains Exchange:
Hamas will return the remains of deceased Israeli captives in exchange for Israel releasing the remains of deceased Palestinian bodies.
Blockade Lifting:
Israel will lift the Gaza Strip blockade, and Hamas will agree not to rebuild its military capabilities.
Supervision:
The agreement will be supervised by Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations, with the United States guaranteeing the agreement's execution.
Both sides have reported violations in the agreement, with Hamas temporarily halting the release of remaining hostages due to alleged Israeli violations. Israel, in turn, has threatened to resume armed conflict if hostages are not returned. The overarching aim of the agreement is to restore and maintain a sustainable calm in the region, with a reconstruction process lasting from three to five years.
