The Red Cross on Saturday confirmed the completion of the second phase of the release of hostages and prisoners as part of the cease-fire agreement in the Gaza Strip. Its workers transported four Israeli hostages from Gaza and some of the 200 Palestinians released from Israeli prisons. It was reported by the Reuters agency, writes TASR.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced that it had interviewed 200 people in Israeli detention centers to assess their health and confirm their identities. The ICRC transported 128 of these prisoners to the Gaza Strip and West Jordan, the release and transportation of the rest were in charge of local authorities.
Israel’s prison service earlier confirmed that all 200 Palestinian prisoners had been released from prisons as planned – in exchange for four female Israeli soldiers released by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Saturday.
Israel blames Hamas for the problems
However, the Israeli army accused Hamas of not complying with the terms of the cease-fire because the civilian hostage Arbel Yehudova was not released. Hamas says it is a “technical problem”, while sources in the movement say Yehudova is alive and will be released in a third exchange next Saturday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that until the matter is resolved, Palestinians from Gaza will not be allowed to return to the north of the Strip .
Among the 200 Palestinians released on Saturday were militants, several of whom were serving life sentences for taking part in attacks that killed dozens, according to a list published by Hamas.
Israel states that those convicted of killing Israelis will not be allowed to return home. According to the Palestinian authorities, approximately 70 of them were deported to Egypt, from where they will be transported to other countries, possibly Turkey, Qatar or Algeria. Another 16 were sent to Gaza and the rest were released in the West Bank.
The cease-fire between Israel and Hamas has been in effect since January 19. The first of three phases, expected to last 42 days, would see the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for roughly 1,900 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel, as well as the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip towards the border. Subsequently, a new round of negotiations on a permanent ceasefire should begin.
