‘The government approved the hostage release plan’, states the text published by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office
The Israeli government approved in the early hours of this Saturday (18th, local date) the ceasefire plan in , which provides for the release of hostages kidnapped by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, according to a brief statement from the Executive. “The government approved the hostage release plan,” states the text published by the prime minister’s office . “The hostage release plan will come into force on Sunday, January 19, 2025,” it adds.
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Despite the announcement on Wednesday of a ceasefire agreement by Qatar and the United States, the Israeli army continued bombing the Palestinian territory, leaving more than 100 people dead, according to rescue teams. The agreement, which should put an end to 15 months of war, foresees in a first phase of six weeks the release of 33 hostages in Gaza, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
The definitive end of the war will be negotiated during this first stage. The first releases will take place on Sunday, according to the Israeli government. The hostages’ families were also informed and were making preparations to receive them, according to the same source. According to sources close to the terrorist group Hamas, the first group is made up of three Israeli women. In exchange, Israel agreed to “release some important prisoners”, said one of the sources.
In Israel, the population is in suspense as to the fate of the youngest of the hostages, Kfir Bibas, an Israeli baby of Argentine origin kidnapped on a kibbutz. Kfir, taken along with his four-year-old brother, would have turned two on Saturday, and although Hamas has claimed he died in Israeli bombing, some still hold out hope.
“I think about them (…) and I get chills,” said Osnat Nyska, a 70-year-old woman whose grandchildren attended the same daycare as the Bibas brothers. The Israeli Ministry of Justice published this Friday a list of 95 Palestinian prisoners who will be exchanged for hostages.
The list includes 70 women, one of whom is a minor, and 25 men, 9 of whom are under 18 years of age. The youngest is 16 years old. Israeli authorities have taken steps to “prevent any public expression of joy” over the release of Palestinian prisoners, if the deal goes through.
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*With information from AFP
Posted by Carolina Ferreira
