Despite delays and fears, it is moving forward to become a reality this Sunday. First, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced early this Friday that his delegation in Doha and that of the Palestinian movement Hamas had signed the agreement that the mediators (Qatar, the United States and Egypt) announced on Wednesday, but which had then remained unsigned. This Friday he met with his security cabinet, which approved the agreement, and, finally, he brought forward the meeting of the Council of Ministers to this afternoon (just before the sabbatical begins). Its foreseeable green light is necessary for it to come into force. Meanwhile, since the announcement of the agreement, Israeli fighters have already killed 101 people, mostly women and children, according to Gaza emergency services.
If, as is assumed, the Executive as a whole gives the green light to the agreement this Friday and there are no unforeseen events, the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners will begin on Sunday, as initially planned, Netanyahu’s office has specified. Between one moment and another, there will be a period of 24 hours for presenting allegations to the Supreme Court, which should not slow it down. In fact, the advancement of the vote to this afternoon (it was initially scheduled for Saturday) is precisely intended for the deadline to start counting as soon as possible, so that the exchange materializes on Sunday.
List
This Friday morning, the Israeli press released the names of the 33 hostages who will be released in the first phase of the agreement. Among them are two children aged two and five and their parents, as well as three people over 80 years old. French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed that two of the 33 also have French nationality. These are women, men over 50 years of age and the so-called “humanitarians”, such as minors and the sick. It is not known for sure how many are alive.
Hamas refused to include military reservists in this first phase, but ended up relenting. He also insisted in the negotiations that he could not provide a prior list because the constant bombings and the risk of revealing his whereabouts prevented it. Israel ended up accepting the exchange without knowing it for sure and believes that they are the majority, unlike the soldiers in the second phase, where more corpses are feared. According to local media, the first – on Sunday – will be three civilian women. Seven days later the following will leave: four other people.
The number of Palestinian prisoners released will depend on how many are alive. The Israeli Prison Service has already begun preparations for the release.
During the month and a half that the first phase is scheduled to last, Israel will begin the progressive withdrawal of its troops in Gaza, will begin to release Palestinian prisoners (some abroad) and will allow displaced people from the north of the Strip to return to the homes they remain standing.
“Waiting for everyone to come home” (Yediot Aharonot), “Holding your breath” (Haaretz), “Waiting for you” (Israel Hayom). The headlines of the paper editions of the main Israeli newspapers show the state of anticipation for the return of the hostages,
Not everyone shares the enthusiasm. The Minister of National Security announced this Saturday that he will resign if the “disastrous” and “irresponsible” pact is “approved and implemented”, but he clarified that he will ensure that Netanyahu remains in power and that he could return to the Executive to shore it up. The ceasefire agreement, he noted, “will release hundreds of terrorists with blood on their hands who, when they come out, will try to kill the next Jew” and “undo all the successes of the war.” He also called for a complete halt to the entry of water, electricity and humanitarian aid into Gaza to force Hamas to hand over all hostages.
The key was, rather, in the position of the ultranationalist minister with the most power: the Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich. After up to five meetings in two days with Netanyahu, they have reached an agreement (the terms of which have not been disclosed) to avoid the departure of the Executive of his party, Religious Zionism. Although he will vote against, he will remain in
The objective of the agreement signed this morning is to make the ceasefire definitive, but its application will depend in practice on the secret agreements between Netanyahu and Donald Trump, who will take office as president of the United States next Monday (and who has named in key positions men with positions close to the most extreme Israeli right), around three issues: bomb Gaza again when it considers that Hamas is trying to regroup; the annexation of the occupied West Bank territory; and, above all, Iran, to which both attach great importance.
