The four-day ceasefire agreement to facilitate the handover of dozens of people taken hostage during the Hamas attack, as well as the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, is expected to bring the first respite to Palestinians in Gaza , ravaged by war, while a ray of hope emerges for the families of the captives.
After a last-minute setback, as it began a day later than planned, the temporary truce between the Israeli Army and the Hamas group came into force this Friday, November 24. Under these terms, the two sides agreed to a four-day ceasefire. Up to a total of 150 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails must also be released as part of the deal.
The pact negotiated by Qatar, the United States and Egypt was announced on Wednesday, November 22. The limited cessation of hostilities puts an end to weeks of indirect negotiations and sets the stage for a period of tension that could determine the course of the war, unleashed after the surprise attack by Hamas in southern Israel on October 7.
Israel, Hamas and Qatar have made public different details of the agreement and do not appear to contradict each other.
Qatar announced the release of 50 hostages in exchange for what the Islamist group said would be 150 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Those released by both parties are women and minors.
The plan is for the hostages, part of the 240 people kidnapped last month, to be released in batches over the course of the four-day ceasefire. It was established that once the first group was released, Israel would release the first group of Palestinian prisoners, as happened in the last few hours.
Among those prisoners are many teenagers detained during a wave of violence in the West Bank in 2022 and 2023, accused of crimes such as stone throwing or disturbing public order, according to a list of prisoners eligible to be released, published by the Ministry of Justice. Israeli. The country led by Benjamin Netanyahu holds almost 7,000 Palestinians accused or convicted of security crimes.
Israel: the truce will be extended by one more day for every 10 additional hostages that are released
Qatar indicated that the Israeli government would also allow more fuel and humanitarian aid into Gaza, but gave no further details.
Hamas stated that, as part of the agreement, dozens of trucks carrying humanitarian aid and fuel will be allowed into Gaza daily. The supplies will also arrive for the first time in northern Gaza, the focus of the Israeli ground offensive, according to Hamas.
The Netanyahu government’s statement made no reference to increased aid and fuel deliveries. Israeli television’s ‘Channel 12’ reported that, as part of the pact, Israel will allow a “significant” amount of fuel and humanitarian supplies into the Palestinian enclave, although it did not specify the amount.
During the war, Israel has drastically limited the entry of basic necessities to the besieged coastal strip, especially fuel, which has caused a serious shortage of water, food and hydrocarbons necessary in Gaza territory for electric power generators.
The fighting is expected to temporarily stop: Israeli planes and troops must not fire, according to the commitment, while the Islamist group’s militants are expected to refrain from launching rockets into the Jewish-majority country.
How do the parties proceed with the ceasefire commitment?
Hamas declared that Israeli warplanes would stop flying over southern Gaza during the four-day truce and for six hours a day about the north. Israel made no mention of stopping the flights and it was not clear whether this would include its sophisticated intelligence drones, with a constant presence over Gaza.
Although several families are hopeful that their loved ones will be released, a significant number of hostages are likely to remain held captive by Hamas. Among them, men, women, elderly and foreigners.
Families not included in the current deal may continue to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to try to secure their relatives’ release under a future deal.
The plight of the families has moved Israelis and they have widespread support.
Netanyahu declared last Wednesday, November 22, that, under the agreement, the International Committee of the Red Cross will visit the remaining hostages and provide them with the medicine they need. Neither Hamas nor the Red Cross confirmed this.
![Israeli soldiers arrive in southern Israel after leaving the Gaza Strip, through the border fence on the first day of the four-day truce, November 24, 2023.](https://s.france24.com/media/display/f92744f0-8acf-11ee-8384-005056bf30b7/a44fb8f5a1e855ca752f1e423b9741206c95fead.jpg)
Israeli troops are expected to remain in position in northern Gaza. The agreement represents only a brief pause in the fighting. Israel, which lists the destruction of Hamas and saving captives as its goals, is expected to resume attacks once the ceasefire ends.
Netanyahu stated that the temporary cessation of hostilities will allow the Army to prepare for continued fighting, will not harm its war effort, and the war will continue once the truce expires.
When it does, air strikes are expected to resume and troops will continue their advance through northern Gaza before their expected incursion into the south at an unknown time. The inhabitants of the impoverished territory will have to prepare for more hostilities.
A pause in fighting would also give Hamas time to strategize, displace its militants and perhaps regroup after Israel claimed to have killed large numbers of fighters and destroyed many of the group’s military assets.
The phased nature of the agreement also opens the door for Hamas to increase its demands as it goes, in the hope that Israel will make new concessions to free more hostages.
Yehya Sinwar, Hamas leader in Gaza and alleged mastermind of the October 7 attack, could also try to turn the four-day pause into a longer ceasefire, offering to release more hostages. A longer truce would make it more difficult for Israel to resume the war, both operationally and in the eyes of global public opinion.
The Israeli government would face growing internal pressure to secure the release of more hostages. Families left out of the current agreement will be more determined to free their loved ones once they have seen the first groups emerge from captivity.
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