In the first phase, Hamas will release 2 Israeli-American citizens
A ceasefire agreement has been reached between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. According to Qatar and the United States, the mediators between the two sides, the ceasefire agreement was reached with the condition that both Hamas and Israel release prisoners.
According to Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, the ceasefire will come into effect on Sunday. According to the BBC, the cease-fire agreement will only come into effect after the Israeli cabinet approves it.
Similarly, American President Joe Biden has also said that with the cease-fire, the war in Gaza will stop, and the Palestinian citizens will receive humanitarian aid and those who have been imprisoned will be able to return home . According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, work is underway to finalize the agreement. He also thanked US President Biden for promoting the ceasefire agreement. Similarly, Hamas leader Khalil Al Haya responded that the ceasefire was possible due to Palestinian flexibility.
Citing American officials, The Times of Israel stated that Hamas had agreed to release 2 American-Israeli citizens in the first phase.
In the first phase, within 6 weeks, Hamas will gradually release 33 people, including women, children, elderly and wounded, and Israel will release Palestinian prisoners in exchange. The 15-month-long war is going to end after reaching an agreement between the two sides.
The war between the two sides erupted after the Palestinian group Hamas launched an unexpected attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. About 1,200 people were killed in the attack by Hamas on October 7. Hamas took 251 hostages. According to the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, Hamas freed 109 people who were incapacitated and during a temporary ceasefire for humanitarian aid.
8 people were freed by the Israeli army and 37 people were handed over after death. 3 people who escaped from the control of Hamas were killed in an attack by the Israeli army. 94 people including Bipin Joshi from Nepal, 1 from Tanzania, 8 from Thailand and 84 from Israel are yet to be freed from the control of Hamas. Among them are 81 males and 13 females. 2 of them are under 5 years old.
According to Israeli officials, 60 of those held by Hamas are still alive. According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, 46,645 Palestinians have lost their lives in the war since October 7. More than a third of them are children. According to Palestinian officials, the number of children killed has exceeded 18,000. 100,000 were injured in the Israeli attack.
