Hours before the activation of a ceasefire in the conflict in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, explicitly, that the agreement’s progress is contingent on the Prime Minister of the Israeli authorities receiving an inventory of Hamas hostages to be released.
The framework will not be able to be progressed until we get the agreed list of hostages to be released to us. Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement. It is the sole responsibility,” Netanyahu posted in Hebrew on X (previously Twitter).
Ceasefire Announcement Amid Continued Strikes
The ceasefire is set to start on Sunday morning as preliminarily agreed by the mediator, Qatar, after Israel’s cabinet gave a green light to the ceasefire deal and a hostage- prisoner swap agreement. Nevertheless, Israeli air strikes against Gaza went on until announcement.
According to Gaza’s civil defense rescue agency on Saturday, at least five people from one family died when an Israeli bomb attack destroyed their tent in Khan Yunis, South Gaza. Meanwhile, explosions were heard over Jerusalem following air raid sirens, as the military confirmed a projectile launch from Yemen. The Iran-aligned, Houthi fighters in Yemen showed support of the Palestinians.
This ceasefire follows 15 months of intense conflict between Hamas and Israel, with only one previous truce in November 2023, which lasted for a week and included a similar exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
Hostage and Prisoner Exchange Details
00 PM (1400 GMT) on Sunday. Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani stated that the initial 42-day ceasefire would include the release of 33 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
Sheikh Mohammed told Sky News that the agreement finalized this week mirrors one initially reached in December 2023. It’s 13 months of pointless bickering over the small stuff,” he said, etc.
Netanyahu’s Televised Address
In a televised address, Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s readiness to resume the war if necessary, stating that the country retains the “right to resume the war with American support.”. Again he stated his determination to recover all the Israeli hostages.
“We have changed the face of the Middle East since this war began,” he asserted, underscoring Israel’s strategic achievements.
Israeli military sources say, of the 251 hostages captured by Hamas, 94 are in Gaza, of whom 34 are considered dead.
Devastating Toll of the War
War, starting 7 October 2023 after the Hamas attack on Israel, has resulted in losses for people on both sides. The Hamas assault is reported to have killed 1,210 people, mostly civilians, in official Israeli statistics.
In response, Israel launched an extensive retaliatory campaign in Gaza, which has devastated the region. As reported by the Hamas‐controlled health ministry, 46,899 have succumbed to the conflict in Gaza, which largely took the form of civilian deaths. These numbers have been accepted as accurate by the UN.
Broader Implications
The ceasefire falls at the same time as the inauguration of Donald Trump for his second term as President of the United States of America, which makes this ceasefire even more important on a global level. The United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, played a crucial role in mediating the agreement.
Netanyahu’s hard line on the hostage deal highlighted the intricate workings of the ceasefire and the pursuit of peace in the area. The current fighting has evoked huge international attention with mediation seeking a solution in the background of long-standing disputes.
With the ceasefire in place, the focus is on the enforcement of the agreement and the humanitarian consequences on Gaza’s severely wounded population. For many, the hope is that the truce could pave the way for a more durable peace, though skepticism remains.
