Second Prisoner Exchange Under Ceasefire Agreement

Hamas to Release Four Israeli Women Hostages

A senior Hamas official has announced that the group will provide the names of four Israeli women hostages to be freed as part of a second release under the ceasefire with Israel. According to Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau based in Doha, the names will be provided on Friday, with the release taking place the following day.

“The names of four hostages will be provided as part of the second prisoner exchange,” Naim said. “Tomorrow, Saturday, the four women hostages will be released in exchange for a group of Palestinian prisoners, as agreed upon in the ceasefire deal.”

War-Displaced Palestinians to Return to Northern Gaza

Naim also announced that once the exchange takes place, war-displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza will be able to begin returning to the north of the territory. An Egyptian-Qatari committee will oversee the implementation of this part of the agreement on the ground.

“The displaced will return from the south to the north via Al-Rashid Road, as Israeli forces are expected to withdraw from there in accordance with the agreement,” Naim said.

Background to the Ceasefire Agreement

The ceasefire agreement was brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States after months of intense negotiations. The truce, the second in the more than 15 months of war, began on Sunday, with the first three hostages released in exchange for around 90 Palestinian prisoners.

The war between Hamas and Israel broke out after the militants’ deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. During the attack, militants took 251 hostages, 91 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military has confirmed are deceased.

Previous Truce and Casualties

The first truce, implemented in late November 2023, lasted just one week but involved the release of 105 hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners. The October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,210 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Since then, Israel’s retaliatory response has killed at least 47,283 people in Gaza, the majority of them civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry, figures which the UN considers are reliable.

Conclusion

The second prisoner exchange under the ceasefire agreement marks a significant step towards ending the conflict between Hamas and Israel. The release of the four Israeli women hostages and the return of war-displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza are crucial steps towards rebuilding and reconciliation.

FAQs

Q: When will the names of the four Israeli women hostages be released?
A: The names will be released on Friday, according to Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau.

Q: When will the four Israeli women hostages be released?
A: The hostages will be released on Saturday, in exchange for a group of Palestinian prisoners.

Q: What is the purpose of the ceasefire agreement?
A: The ceasefire agreement aims to end the conflict between Hamas and Israel, and to facilitate the release of hostages and prisoners.

Q: How many people have been killed in the conflict?
A: According to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry, at least 47,283 people have been killed in Gaza, the majority of them civilians.