It finally took place this afternoon, January 19th, truce between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The temporary ceasefire was supposed to come into effect at 8.30:7.30 local time (95:17 in Italy) but everything was postponed because Hamas had not yet delivered the list of the first hostages to be freed and Israel resumed military operations in Gaza. Then finally the situation cleared up with the release of three Israeli hostages and XNUMX Palestinian prisoners. At XNUMX:XNUMX pm the ceasefire began First exchange of Palestinian hostages and prisoners kidnapped on October 7. Tel Aviv is expected to release 95 prisoners. Among them are some terrorists and life-sentenced prisoners. The EU expressed satisfaction with the truce and the exchange of hostages and prisoners.
The Israeli army has reportedly begun to leave the first areas of conflict, including Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Movements also confirmed by Al Jazeera, according to which several military vehicles are leaving the city center to head toward the Philadelphia corridor, on the border with Egypt. Details not yet confirmed by Israel.
Netanyahu's Threats
L'unknown about the names of the first 3 of the 33 Israelis kidnapped by Hamas who will be returned to Israel today was yesterday at the center of the first tensions over what appears to be a very fragile truce"We will not move forward with the agreement until we receive a list of the hostages who will be released, as agreed," the Israeli prime minister thundered. Benjamin Netanyahu warning that “Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement. The sole responsibility lies with Hamas.”
The names of the three women who are expected to be freed by Hamas are being circulated as rumors in the media, but there has not yet been an official confirmation. The agreement provides for the release of civilians first. Five of the 33 hostages would fit this profile. The Israeli media are doubtful that among the hostages released today there could be Shiri Siberman Bibas, the mother of two little brothers Ariel and Kfir, who was only nine months old at the time of the kidnapping. Hamas had announced her death, never confirmed by Israeli intelligence. This leaves four possible names among the female hostages who could be released today: Emily Damari, 28, the only British hostage left in Gaza, and Doron Steinbrecher, 30, both from Kgar Aza. Romi Gonne, 24, kidnapped during the Nova Festival. Arbel Yehud, 28, from Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Under the agreement, the Palestinian prisoners 95 will be released. During the first 42 days of the first phase, four more hostages are expected to be released on the seventh day and 26 in the remaining five weeks. Tel Aviv estimates that, of the 33 hostages captured during the massacre of October 7, at least 25 are alive. In total, 97 people are being held hostage in Hamas' hands. Israel "will bring home hostages alive thanks to our determination" and "will bring them all home," it assured last night Netanyahu in the first public speech after the agreement. "We have managed to double the number of live hostages who will return home in the first phase" of the agreement, we have obtained "an increase" compared to what had been proposed by Hamas.
But the various phases of the agreement worry the relatives of the hostages who have asked the government to speed up negotiations on the next phases. “We urgently call for rapid agreements to ensure that all phases of the agreement are implemented and we emphasize that negotiations for the next phases should begin before the sixteenth day,” the message sent by the relatives to Netanyahu.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military has warned Gaza residents not to approach their troops or move toward the buffer zone before the ceasefire goes into effect. “It is for your safety,” military spokesman Avichay Adraee said on Telegram. “At this stage, moving toward the buffer zone or moving from south to north through the Gaza Valley puts you at risk. Anyone who moves toward these areas puts themselves at risk.”
Palestinian prisoners
According to the agreement, Israel has agreed to release up to 1.904 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the 33 hostages. Among them are several life-sentenced prisoners and perpetrators of brutal crimes. There are members of Hamas, Fatah and Pij. And then women and minors. Zakaria Zuneidi, former commander of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in Jenin, will be able to leave prison. There are three members of the Hamas terrorist cell “Siwan,” named after the Jerusalem neighborhood. Marwan Barghouti, sentenced to five life sentences, is not expected to be released.
