According to reports, Hamas has accepted the conditions of a truce with Israel, which has attacked Gaza on land and in the air in retribution for the October 7, 2023 attack.
Many captives were carried into Gaza during Hamas’ invasion of Israel, and only a small number were released as the situation worsened, killing an estimated 46,000 Palestinians.
More than 1,000 Israelis lost their lives in the 2023 attack.
On Wednesday, Israeli and Palestinian officials announced that Hamas had agreed to a deal to release hostages and halt the fighting in Gaza.
Multiple media reports indicated that Israeli officials confirmed an agreement had been reached, with an announcement expected soon. Both Reuters and AFP cited Palestinian sources stating that Hamas had verbally approved the deal, though Reuters noted that a formal written response was still pending.
CNN, citing a source, reported that the agreement could result in a phased release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners. Implementation is expected to begin on Sunday, with Hamas reportedly set to release 33 hostages in the initial phase while hundreds of Palestinian prisoners would be freed from Israeli jails simultaneously.
“The release of the hostages would be the first phase of the deal being finalized. Negotiations to reach the second phase – which is intended to end the war – would begin on the 16th day of the implementation of the deal. Here’s what we know about the potential deal,” CNN said in its report.
The deal would provide Gazans with their second reprieve from conflict since the start of the Israeli onslaught and their first in almost a year.
When the agreement is finalized, it is anticipated that Palestinian civilians will be able to return to northern Gaza and that a significant amount of humanitarian supplies would be sent to the region, where people have long had to deal with terrible living circumstances.
The group was quoted as saying in a different statement that it had discussed the planned deal with allied factions.
“The movement has dealt with this matter with full responsibility and positivity, stemming from its duty towards our steadfast and resilient people in the Gaza Strip, to stop the Zionist aggression against them and put an end to the massacres and genocide they are facing.”
Follow Parallel Facts on WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCQSAoHgZWiDjR3Kn2E
