The militant group, Hamas, launched three hostages at the Southern Gaza Strip on Saturday. In return, Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners in the fourth round of exchanges. The launch of the hostages comes as part of the Gaza Fire Cessation Agreement between Israel and Hamas.
According to the agreement between the two sides at war, Hamas will launch 33 hostages, while Israel releases almost 2,000 prisoners. Israel will also pave the way for the return of the Palestinians to northern Gaza and an increase in humanitarian aid to devastated territory.
Conversations about the second phase of Alto El Fuego next week
The negotiation of the second phase of the Alto El Fuego, which requires freeing the remaining hostages and extending the truce indefinitely, will take place next week. The war could be resumed in early March if an agreement is not reached.
The Palestinian health authorities in Gaza also announced that Rafah’s border crossing with Egypt would reopen on Saturday for thousands of Palestinians who desperately need medical care, an advance that indicates the high fire agreement continues to gain traction.
The conversations in the second phase of Alto El Fuego to start on Monday, said the Netanyahu office. The Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he spoke on Saturday night with President Donald Trump’s special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.
Netanyahu leaves Sunday for Washington, where he will meet with Trump on Tuesday.
Conversations about the second most difficult phase of the Alto El Fuego have been established to start on Monday, two weeks in the first phase of six weeks. Netanyahu’s office said he and Witkoff will discuss the positions of Israel and Witkoff later in the week will talk to the other mediators, Qatar and Egypt.
The pressure concerted by the incoming administration of Trump and the outgoing Biden was cited as a factor to achieve this high fire after months of stagnant conversations.
(With AP tickets)
Also read: Trump imposes tariffs on exports from Canada, Mexico and China, says “we need to protect Americans”
By
