After agreement, the countdown begins for the relatives of the hostages held by Hamas
The relatives of the hostages held by Hamas began a countdown after Israel and the terror group reached an agreement to release the abductees.
Details are still being defined. On Wednesday evening (22), Israel’s National Security Council said in a statement that negotiations were advanced, but the release of the hostages would not begin before Friday (24).
The hostages are expected to be released gradually in groups of ten people per day. A total of 50 people kidnapped by terrorists last month should be released. The group will consist of children and women.
Israel will release 150 Palestinian prisoners, women and teenagers. In order for the exchange to take place, there will be a fourday ceasefire in the fighting in Gaza. During this time, trucks carrying humanitarian aid, medicine and fuel must enter the area.
1 in 2 trucks carrying humanitarian aid, medicine and fuel must enter the Gaza Strip during the ceasefire Photo: JN Trucks carrying humanitarian aid, medicine and fuel must enter the Gaza Strip during the ceasefire Photo: JN
The Israeli prime minister said the Red Cross could visit the hostages in Gaza. It will be the first ceasefire in the war in almost 50 days.
After a sixhour cabinet meeting, the Israeli government announced that an agreement with Hamas to release the hostages had been approved. Then Qatar, which mediated along with Egypt and the United States, released a statement.
This Wednesday, the Israeli Ministry of Justice published a list of 300 Palestinian prisoners who could be released. Civil society has 24 hours to challenge each name.
A square in central Tel Aviv became known as Geiselplatz right at the start of the war; This is because the families of the abductees went there every day to demonstrate and call on the government to make the return of their families to their homeland a priority. This Wednesday her mood is a little different. The people there are friends, they are supporters, but the families themselves have decided to stay home to wait for the news and find out exactly who is on the list of people being released and when they can leave Gaza.
Anat is a friend of Itay who was visiting his parents at Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7 when he was kidnapped.
“I wanted everyone to go home today, but that’s not possible. I am very happy that women and children can return,” she said.
Itay’s parents were killed in the attack. His mother was part of a group of women fighting for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
“We will continue to come here every day to demand the release of every single hostage,” said Manuela Rotsteheim.
2 of 2 The Portal news agency published images of a tunnel under AlShifa Hospital Photo: JN The Portal news agency published images of a tunnel under AlShifa Hospital Photo: JN
A funeral was held in the West Bank for six Palestinians killed in Tulkarm. The Palestinian Health Ministry, which is controlled by Fatah, a rival group to Hamas, said they were targets of an Israeli drone strike.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said the agreement between Israel and Hamas was welcome and called for broader solutions to the conflict between the two sides.