Hostage exchange between Hamas and Israel resumes amid fragile truce negotiations
Hamas announced reaching an agreement with Israel, resolving the deadlock in the exchange of hostages and their remains for Palestinian prisoners. According to "Haaretz," on Wednesday evening, Hamas is expected to hand over the remains of four hostages, and Israel will release 602 Palestinians. This exchange is part of a temporary ceasefire effective since January 19.
Israel was supposed to release 602 Palestinians already on Saturday, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu halted the exchange due to Hamas violating truce agreements. Hamas organized propaganda spectacles during the transfer of prisoners and their remains. Nevertheless, the exchange is set to take place this Wednesday at the Kerem Shalom border crossing.
So far, Hamas has handed over 25 hostages and four bodies, and Israel has released 1,135 Palestinians. These actions are part of the first stage of the truce, which is to end in early March. The second phase of the ceasefire, involving a permanent truce and the release of all kidnapped individuals, is still uncertain.
Prolonged conflict
Israel aims to extend the first stage of the truce to exchange more hostages for prisoners without negotiating a total 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 the participation of Egypt, the United States, and Qatar.
The war in the Gaza Strip has been ongoing since October 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel. The conflict has claimed the lives of approximately 1,200 people, while 251 have been kidnapped. Over 48,000 residents of the Gaza Strip have been killed in the fighting, leaving the territory devastated and in a humanitarian crisis.
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