Israel reaches deal with Hamas to release hostages
Israel and Hamas agreed on Wednesday (22), local time Tuesday evening (21), in Brazil to release 50 hostages in exchange for a pause in fighting. The information was released by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
The date for the start of the ceasefire in the conflict has not yet been announced. According to the Israeli government, women and children taken hostage by the terrorist group will be released within four days. During this time the conflict will pause.
The Prime Minister’s Office also said the pause in the conflict could be extended by one day for every 10 hostages released.
The negotiations had been conducted in secret since the beginning of the war. Also on Tuesday, sources in the United States confirmed the existence of talks, according to a report last week in The Washington Post newspaper.
Netanyahu called on government members to discuss the agreement this Tuesday. The talks took place in the early hours of Wednesday morning local time.
Before the meeting, the Israeli prime minister assured security forces and senior government officials that the offensive against Hamas would resume after the hostages were released.
“We are at war and we will continue the war,” Netanyahu said. “We will continue until we achieve all of our goals.”
About 240 people were kidnapped by Hamas in October, when the war began. According to the US government, the terrorist group claims that the ceasefire is necessary in order to be able to decide for itself who will be released.
US officials confirmed that talks on a solution included the release of 150 Palestinians held as prisoners by Israel. This information can also be found in a statement released by Hamas.
US President Joe Biden said this morning he was “close” to an agreement to release hostages.
The lull in the conflict will also allow humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip. Therefore, trucks carrying medical aid and fuel must reach all regions of the enclave.
Hamas said the agreement also stipulated that all air traffic in the southern Gaza Strip would be suspended for the duration of the ceasefire.
Hostages were kidnapped
An Israeli takes part in a demonstration in Tel Aviv demanding the return of family members taken hostage during the Hamas invasion of Israel. Photo: Portal/Janis Laizans Israelis take part in a demonstration in Tel Aviv demanding the return of family members taken hostage during the Hamas invasion of Israel. — Photo: Portal/Janis Laizans
The hostages held by Hamas were kidnapped on Israeli territory on October 7. On that day, armed terrorists invaded Israel and killed hundreds of people.
Most of those abducted lived on collective farms called “kibbutz”. In addition, Hamas also took people hostage who were at an openair music festival.
In addition to Israelis, the abductees also include people with citizenship from various countries, such as the USA, Great Britain and Germany. According to the Israeli government, around 40 hostages are children.
Since the conflict began, only four abducted people have been released by Hamas. The first were an American mother and daughter. Two Israeli women were then able to return home.
In addition, the Israeli army managed to free a soldier taken hostage in Gaza in late October as troops entered the enclave. Two more hostages were found dead.
Hamas said it was holding the hostages in tunnels and secure locations.