DaysofPal- The Hamas Movement announced that it has reached an agreement with Egyptian mediators regarding the release of 620 Palestinian prisoners, whose handover had been stalled by the Israeli government since last Saturday.
In a statement released late Tuesday, Hamas confirmed that a resolution had been reached to ensure the simultaneous release of the Palestinian prisoners, along with additional Palestinian women and children detainees, in exchange for the bodies of Israeli individuals killed in Israeli airstrikes during the ongoing war on Gaza.
A Hamas delegation, led by senior official Khalil al-Hayya, concluded a visit to Cairo on Tuesday after holding discussions with Egyptian officials. The talks focused on the ceasefire, the prisoner exchange agreement, and preparations for the next phase of negotiations.
During the meetings, the Hamas delegation underscored the necessity for the Israeli government to adhere fully to the terms of the agreement. The group accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of obstructing the release of the 620 Palestinian prisoners, despite Hamas fulfilling its obligations under the deal.
The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement began on January 19th, consisting of three phases, each lasting 42 days. A key condition of the agreement is that negotiations for the next phase must be completed before the current phase ends.
Palestinian groups have already released 25 living prisoners and turned over four bodies in seven batches as part of the first phase, which called for the release of 33 Israeli prisoners, both alive and dead. In return, Israel has released 1,135 Palestinian detainees, including dozens who were serving life sentences.
It is estimated that 62 Israeli prisoners remain in Gaza, both alive and deceased. Meanwhile, thousands of Palestinians continue to be held in Israeli prisons, where they are subjected to torture, starvation, and medical neglect, leading to the deaths of many detainees, according to reports from Palestinian and Israeli media, as well as human rights organizations.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=60916
