Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.
The second phase of the Gaza hostage deal appeared to move forward last Saturday night after a delay of at least five hours after Hamas announced that the deal was on hold.
Close to 9 p.m., Hamas stated that “the Islamic Resistance Movement Hams responded to the estimated Egyptian Qatari efforts that moved throughout the day to ensure the continuation of the temporary armistice agreement after transferring then in the commitment of the occupation to all the conditions stipulated in the agreement.”
It had earlier argued that not enough humanitarian aid had entered Gaza through the Egyptian crossing at Rafah and that Israel had not freed agreed-upon Palestinian prisoners based on seniority.
Qatari, Egyptian and Israeli officials had worked to save the deal.
Immense pressure from behind the scenes on Hamas came from Qatar, urging them to adhere to the planned ceasefire, according to N12. The Qatari Foreign Ministry confirmed that 39 Palestinians will be released in exchange for the release of 13 hostages, they also confirmed that 7 foreign nationals would be released as well.
Prime Minister Netanyahu also held a situation assessment with top security officials to make sure that the second phase of the deal would proceed as expected, his office stated.
The delay had come as Israel prepared to receive some 13 hostages, whose families had already been notified. Some seven foreigners are also expected to be freed on Saturday night.
Al Jazeera had already announced that the hostage deal was underway, when it became clear that no such step was taking place.
MK Yuli Edelstein tweeted on the situation, saying: “There is a fundamental Arabic value, translated to ‘patience is the key to victory.’ They have patience, but so do we.”
בערבית יש ערך יסוד שהתרגום החופשי שלו הוא ‘סבלנות מפתח לניצחון’.להם יש סבלנות, אבל גם לנו.הם ינסו למתוח את החבל, אבל אנחנו נחליט מתי הזמן לקרוע את החבל. הם ינסו לשחק איתנו ואנחנו נגיב בזמן ובדרך הנכונה לנו. בזהירות, בנחישות. כל צעד מחושב קדימה עד שכולם יהיו פה. עד לניצחון.
— Yuli Edelstein יולי אדלשטיין (@YuliEdelstein) November 25, 2023
He continued “They will try to stretch the rope, but we will decide when it is time to tear the rope. They will try to play with us and we will respond at the right time and in the right way for us. Carefully, resolutely. Every step is calculated forward until everyone is here. Until victory.”
Families of Israeli hostages were notified to start heading to medical facilities across Israel as they await the arrival of their loved ones, all women and children from Kibbutz Be’eri.
Israel pushing to release mother of hostage set for release
According to Israeli sources, officials in Jerusalem are pushing to up the number of hostages released on Saturday by one, after it became apparent that one hostage was set to be freed without her mother, who was also taken into Gaza by Palestinian terror group Hamas on October 7.
As per the details of the Qatari and Egyptian-mediated truce and hostage release deal, families cannot be separated in the releases.
Last-minute discussions, headed by the coordinator for hostages and missing persons Gal Hirsch, were taking place early on Saturday to facilitate the release of the unnamed mother, Israeli media reported.
The first phase of the deal, which would see 50 captives freed in four days in exchange for a pause in the war and the release of 150 jailed Palestinian women and minors, was successfully executed on Friday.
Thirteen Israeli captives were freed and 39 Palestinian prisoners were freed. Hostilities had ceased on Friday already at 10 a.m. and an increased number trucks with humanitarian aid moved into Gaza.
The mechanisms of the deal allowed for it to be extended for another five days, by which 10 hostages would be freed every 24 hours.
In an unusual move, a delegation of Qatari officials landed in Israel on Saturday to discuss extending deal, according to KAN news.
The delay had sparked speculation that the deal was off and the war would be resumed. But as of 9 p.m., it appeared that the crisis had been resolved.
This is a developing story.
Comments are closed.