Hamas has confirmed that the release of Israeli hostages from Gaza, the first step in a US-mediated ceasefire deal, is scheduled to start on Monday morning.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!A senior Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, stated that the prisoner exchange would begin as agreed, with no new delays. This move precedes a high-stakes Gaza peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, co-chaired by US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
Key Details of the First Phase:
- Hostage-Prisoner Swap: Under the phased agreement, Hamas will initially release 48 hostages, most of whom are Israelis. In return, Israel will release nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees.
- The Hostages: The 48 hostages are believed to include the 20 remaining living captives and the remains of 28 who are deceased. Hamas has noted it may face difficulty locating some of the bodies within the 72-hour timeframe.
- Ceasefire in Effect: The first phase of the agreement technically began on Friday at noon local time (0900 GMT) with an Israeli ceasefire and a partial troop withdrawal, allowing displaced families to start returning to their homes.
- Hamas Rejection: While agreeing to the exchange, Hamas has rejected the notion of its officials participating in the formal signing of the peace deal in Egypt. The group also called proposals for its members to leave the Gaza Strip “absurd.”
The summit on Monday, attended by leaders from more than 20 countries, aims to finalize the comprehensive agreement to end the war and promote regional stability.
