Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday that an agreement has been reached on the release of people held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu said he would call a security cabinet meeting on Friday to approve the deal and then the government would approve the deal. The announcement came a day after Netanyahu’s office said talks for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners hit last-minute snags.
Fighting in Gaza Strip will stop
Netanyahu’s pre-dawn statement appeared to clear the way for Israel’s approval of the deal, which would end fighting in the Gaza Strip and allow militants in Gaza to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Dozens of hostages held by the US will be released. This agreement will also give millions of displaced Palestinians the opportunity to return to their homes in Gaza.
Agreement reached to release people held hostage by Hamas
Meanwhile, at least 72 people were killed in Israeli strikes in war-torn areas. Netanyahu said he directed the preparation of a special task force for the return of the hostages from Gaza and that their families have been informed that an agreement has been reached. Israel had delayed Thursday’s vote on the ceasefire and blamed Hamas for delaying last-minute approval. Growing tensions within Netanyahu’s government coalition raised concerns about the implementation of the agreement. A day earlier, US President Joe Biden and key mediator Qatar had announced that it had been completed.
New demands of Hamas related to deployment of Israeli army in Philadelphia Corridor
Netanyahu’s office had accused Hamas of reneging on parts of the agreement in an effort to extract further concessions. At a press conference on Thursday, Israeli government spokesman David Mencer said that Hamas’s new demands relate to the deployment of Israeli troops in the Philadelphia corridor. The Philadelphia Corridor is a narrow strip along the Egyptian border which was captured by Israeli troops in May. Hamas denied these claims. Ezzat al-Rishq, a senior Hamas official, said the militant group is “committed to the ceasefire agreement that was announced by the mediators.” Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people. were killed and 250 others were taken hostage. After this, Israel launched retaliatory attacks, in which according to Palestinian health officials, more than 46 thousand Palestinians were killed. The ceasefire agreement announced on Wednesday will bring a halt to the fighting and end the 15-month-long war. Due to this war, the situation in West Asia has become unstable and there have been protests against it all over the world.
Final seal on ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas
US President Joe Biden on January 15 announced the successful negotiation of a ceasefire and hostage agreement between Israel and Hamas, ending more than 15 months of conflict. The agreement, structured in three phases, includes a complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the release of hostages, including Americans, in the first phase. Biden also highlighted the diplomatic efforts involved, citing pressure from Israel and US support, as well as the 20-nation coalition that stood against the Houthis’ attacks.
America’s stance,BidenofComment
Commenting on the ceasefire and hostage agreement being reached, Biden said, “It’s a very good afternoon because finally, I can announce a ceasefire and a hostage agreement has been reached between Israel and Hamas. The hostages, their families And more than 15 months of terror for the Israeli people and more than 15 months of suffering by the innocent people of Gaza. The fighting in Gaza will stop and the hostages will soon return to their families.”
