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Relatives of those held captive and Palestinians confined in Gaza, are eagerly anticipating the commencement of a highly anticipated ceasefire and release of prisoners. This marks the first sign of progress in a violent conflict that has lasted seven weeks.
Over a span of four days, it is anticipated that around 50 women and children who were taken by militants will be freed in exchange for a cessation of hostilities and the release of 150 Palestinian women and children imprisoned in Israel.
Hamas announced that numerous trucks filled with humanitarian supplies, including fuel, will be permitted to enter Gaza. According to Israeli diplomatic sources, the ceasefire may be prolonged for each group of 10 or more hostages released. As part of the agreement, there will also be a release of additional Palestinians.
It was anticipated that hostages would begin to be released on Thursday, however, Tzachi Hanegbi, Israel’s national security advisor, stated that captives would not be released until Friday.
“The prime minister’s office released a statement from Mr. Hanegbi stating that negotiations for the release of our captives are ongoing and making progress.”
Mr. Hanegbi stated that the release will begin based on the initial agreement made by both parties, and not before Friday.
The loved ones, acquaintances, and advocates of Ditza Heiman (84), who has been held captive in Gaza since the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, gathered in a demonstration to demand the release of Israeli hostages.
The Ministry of Justice in Israel released a roster of 300 Palestinians who are qualified to be freed. These individuals are mostly adolescent boys who were arrested in the last 12 months for throwing rocks and committing other minor crimes.
After weeks of tense negotiations, the agreement has brought much-needed relief to families who have been advocating for the release of approximately 240 hostages being held by militant groups.
There is a great deal of concern that due to the intense tension and lack of trust, there is a possibility of it falling apart. Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, stated that it was the appropriate decision, but noted that the ceasefire was only temporary.
“I want to clarify that the war is ongoing. We will persist until all of our objectives are met,” he stated.
He stated that Israel will recommence the conflict following the temporary ceasefire and continue to battle until all of their objectives are met. These goals include dismantling Hamas’ military and governing capabilities and bringing back all hostages.
After the ceasefire, the Israeli army has indicated that it will continue their attack in the southern region, despite warnings from human rights organizations that this could have catastrophic consequences for families seeking refuge in the area.
On October 7th, members of Hamas took control of numerous civilians, including individuals from other countries, infants as young as 10 months old, and elderly individuals, in a violent attack on towns in southern Israel. This attack resulted in the deaths of at least 1200 people.
Israel responded with a severe blockade, its most intense bombing of Gaza, and a military attack within the enclosed area. To date, only four female captives have been freed through negotiations involving Egypt, the US, and Israel. The remains of two more Israeli women have been discovered in Gaza City.
In Gaza, which is under siege, there has been a brief four-day pause in fighting and an increase in the delivery of much-needed aid. This is the first break for civilians who have been enduring intense bombing from Israel since October 7th.
Men look over the site of a deadly explosion at al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City
The official death toll from Israel’s airstrikes in Palestine has been halted by the Palestinian health ministry due to the intensity of the bombing, making it impossible to accurately record the number of casualties. It is estimated that up to 14,000 people may have lost their lives.
There has been a lot of anticipation surrounding the truce agreement, as talks have been ongoing until the last minute.
The relatives of captives, who had established a central meeting place in a square in Tel Aviv, informed The Independent that they were feeling “anxious but hopeful” about the agreement and were simply hoping that the ceasefire would last for the entire four-day duration.
Gil Dickmann, whose cousin Carmel, 39, was taken from their home in Kibbutz Beeri, stated that this agreement seems to pave the way for future agreements and the release of additional hostages.
The issue is whether it will disintegrate during the time period. A potential issue is that the agreement may crumble halfway through.
Civilians in Gaza expressed worry for various reasons, telling The Independent that they were close to running out of essential necessities, facing difficulty in accessing clean water, and anxious about the possibility of Israel’s ground invasion reaching the densely populated southern region where the majority of the 2.3 million residents are located. This was after following Israel’s instructions to evacuate from the south.
David and Varda Goldstein take a photo while showcasing pictures of their three grandchildren, Gal, Tal, and Agam, along with their mother, Chen. The children and their mother were abducted by Hamas.
Ahmed, who requested anonymity for his safety, stated that he and his family were preparing for a challenging evening in the southern city of Rafah.
Ahmed stated that the hours leading up to a break or ceasefire are typically the most dangerous and that he anticipates a terrible evening.
“He stated that four days would not suffice in providing ample humanitarian assistance for the large and crowded population in the southern region. He mentioned that he and his spouse are quickly depleting their essential resources.”
“This is just a temporary break. Individuals are unable to return home to retrieve their remaining possessions or even recover the bodies of those who were buried under the debris.”
The final arrangements were still being worked on at the last minute. David Barnea, the head of Israel’s Mossad, flew to Doha on Wednesday afternoon to finalize the deal with Qatar. A diplomatic source revealed, “The specifics are still being settled and it is a very delicate matter.”
On Wednesday evening, the International Committee of the Red Cross reported that they have not yet received information on the logistics of the agreement for transporting hostages.
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip
According to diplomatic sources, the ceasefire will commence at 10am in the local time zone. This information has also been publicly confirmed by Hamas.
The Independent understands at that point they will start to gather and transport the hostages to the south of Gaza – a treacherous journey in the war-blasted territory that for previous hostage releases had taken as long as 13 hours.
After departing Gaza, individuals will be greeted by psychologists and doctors before being transported to hospitals in Israel for necessary medical care. Later on, those Palestinians who were included in the agreement and are currently incarcerated in Israeli prisons will be freed and allowed to return to their homes.
President Joe Biden of the United States expressed his approval of the agreement, stating that Prime Minister Netanyahu has promised to back an “extended pause.” Numerous countries, such as Britain, France, China, and Russia, have also shown their support for the deal.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the prime minister of Qatar, expressed his hope that the agreement would ultimately result in a lasting ceasefire and meaningful discussions to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The agreement was praised by Arab foreign ministers, who also emphasized the need for increased assistance to Gaza and an extension of the ceasefire. They viewed it as a crucial first step towards ending all acts of hostility.
There were some tense exceptions regarding the release of Palestinian women and children from Israeli prisons as part of the ceasefire.
On Wednesday, a young boy from Palestine riding a bicycle observed the remains of a building damaged by Israeli attacks in Rafah.
The Israeli army has reported a total of over 1,850 arrests of Palestinians in the West Bank during the ongoing war, with the majority being suspected members of Hamas. According to Palestinian advocacy organizations, the actual figure is closer to 3,000, including 200 minors.
According to the United Nations, the West Bank has experienced its deadliest year in decades, with 200 Palestinian fatalities resulting from clashes instigated by military incursions. There has also been an increase in attacks by Jewish settlers, adding to the sense of hopelessness among Palestinians.
On Wednesday, the intense conflict in Gaza persisted. In the area near Khan Younis, laborers began digging a large burial site for the remains of 111 individuals that were recently retrieved by Israeli authorities from Shifa Hospital and other locations in northern Gaza. The Israeli troops took possession of the bodies in order to conduct DNA testing while searching for potential hostages in the northern region.
Buildings in the Nusseirat refugee camp and the city of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza were also damaged by strikes, as these areas have been targeted with intense bombing in recent days.
The city’s al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said 128 bodies were brought in overnight after strikes. “There’s no safe place,” said Umm Rami al-Jabali, who survived a strike in Deir al-Balah. “Inside isn’t safe, outside isn’t safe.”
Source: independent.co.uk
