In a significant development towards peace in the Middle East, Egypt announced on Saturday that Israel will release more than 1,890 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Hamas freeing 33 Israeli detainees during the first phase of a newly agreed Gaza ceasefire.
The ceasefire agreement, reached through Egyptian mediation with regional and international partners, is scheduled to commence at 8:30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT) on Sunday, according to a statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.
The initial phase of the ceasefire will span 42 days, during which the prisoner exchange will take place. Egypt emphasized the commitment of all parties to ensure the full and timely implementation of the agreement in all its three stages.
Despite agreeing to the ceasefire and prisoner exchange, Israel retains the right to return to war if the terms of the agreement are violated.
Egypt expressed hope that this ceasefire will mark the beginning of alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry called upon the international community, particularly the United States, to support and consolidate the agreement and work towards establishing a permanent ceasefire.
Additionally, Egypt urged the international community to provide necessary humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people and to develop an urgent plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, which has suffered extensive destruction during the recent conflict.
Highlighting the importance of rebuilding trust, Egypt stressed the need to accelerate the development of a roadmap that would facilitate a return to negotiations. The aim is to address the Palestinian cause within the framework of the two-state solution, as per international legitimacy resolutions. This solution envisions the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
To oversee the implementation of the agreement, Egypt, in coordination with Qatar and the United States, will establish a joint operations room headquartered in Egypt. This operations room will be responsible for monitoring the exchange of detainees and prisoners, facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid, and managing the movement of individuals following the reopening of the Rafah crossing.
The ceasefire-for-hostages deal comes after intensive mediation efforts by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. Since October 7, 2023, Hamas and Israel have been engaged in a fierce conflict that has resulted in the deaths of over 46,000 Palestinians in Gaza and caused unprecedented destruction. The conflict began after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing over 1,200 Israelis and taking more than 250 people hostage.
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Israel to free Palestinian prisoners, retains right to return to war
cgtn.com
