- Three hostages set for release today
Israeli Authorities have confirmed that the long-anticipated ceasefire deal in Gaza has officially come into effect.
This is as first three hostages to be released by Hamas have been named as Doron Steinbrecher, 31, and a dual British-Israeli Emily Damari, 28, who were kidnapped from their kibbutz, and Romi Gonen, 24, who was taken from the Supernova Festival in October 2023.
Reports indicated that the three hostages would be released later today to kick start the ceasefire deal.
A statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office read thus; “According to the plan for the release of the hostages, the ceasefire for phase one in Gaza will come into effect at 11:15 local time (09:15 GMT),”
Officials indicated that the ceasefire deal comes in three stages. In the first stage of the ceasefire deal, 33 hostages are set to be released over six weeks in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
The remainder are to be released in a second phase. The 98 hostages, some of whom are believed to be dead, include four people taken hostage in 2014 and 2015.
Israeli Attacks Kill 13 Palestinians Sunday Morning
However, there was a disturbing development on Sunday morning with reports that Israeli attacks resulted in at least 13 Palestinian people being killed.
Palestinian medics claimed that Israeli airstrikes and artillery attacks killed not less than 13 Palestinians between 0630 GMT, when the ceasefire was meant to begin, and 0915 GMT, when it actually took effect.
The Palestinian news agency, Wafa reported that the Israeli attacks have targeted Beit Lahiya, Gaza City and al-Bureij in Gaza.
In what it described as “violent shelling” occurring in Beit Hanoun and other areas in the northern part of the Strip, Wafa said dozens more people are reported to have been injured in the attacks.
How Stage One Will Work?
A total of 33 hostages will be released over the next six weeks, in exchange for about 1,700 Palestinians held in Israel prisons, about 1,000 of whom are from Gaza and were arrested after 7 October 2023 under emergency legislation which allowed detention without charge or trial.
Three female captives, named by Hamas as Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari, will be freed first in exchange for about 95 Palestinians.
A handful of Israelis will then be released every Sunday for the next six weeks; the number of Palestinians to be freed upon their return generally depends on whether the Israelis are civilians or soldiers.
Some of the freed Palestinians from the West Bank sentenced for serious crimes against Israelis will be sent to third countries rather than be allowed to return home.
In Gaza, people displaced from their homes will be allowed to move freely around the Palestinian territory from day seven, and 600 trucks of aid will arrive each day to alleviate the strip’s dire humanitarian conditions.
Supplies to Gaza are currently at an average of 18 truckloads a day; but Aid agencies maintained that 500 trucklo a day is needed at a minimum. – With The Guardian report
