GAZA CITY: Hamas stated it could trade the our bodies of 4 Israeli hostages for greater than 600 Palestinian prisoners on Thursday (Feb 27), capping the primary part of a Gaza ceasefire deal.
The US stated talks have been on observe for a second part of the ceasefire deal that has largely held however whose complexity and long-drawn-out implementation have highlighted its fragility.
In Israel on Wednesday, 1000’s of mourners gathered for the funeral procession of Shiri Bibas and her sons, who have been killed in captivity in Gaza and had turn out to be symbols of the nation’s hostage ordeal.
The ceasefire has largely halted the Israel-Hamas battle sparked by the Oct 7, 2023 assault, and has seen 25 hostages launched alive thus far in trade for tons of of prisoners.
“Mediators have knowledgeable Hamas that the (hostage-prisoner) trade will happen on Thursday … Hamas and different resistance factions will hand over 4 our bodies of Israeli captives, and in return, Israel will launch greater than 600 Palestinian detainees,” a Hamas official instructed AFP.
One other senior Hamas official stated the “trade will occur concurrently”.
In Washington, US President Donald Trump’s high envoy on the Center East stated Israeli representatives have been en path to talks on the following part of the ceasefire deal.
“We’re making loads of progress. Israel is sending a group proper now as we converse,” Steve Witkoff instructed an occasion for the American Jewish Committee.
“It is both going to be in Doha or in Cairo, the place negotiations will start once more with the Egyptians and the Qataris,” he stated.
Israel has but to verify its launch and has not commented on whether or not it’s sending a delegation to debate the second part of the truce.
This primary part is meant to finish on Saturday, however negotiations deliberate for the remainder of the method – which have been to start in early February – haven’t but began.
Hamas has stated it is able to launch “in a single go” all of the remaining hostages throughout the second part.
On Sunday, the group accused Israel of endangering the Gaza truce by delaying the discharge of greater than 600 Palestinian prisoners.
Israel justified the delay by citing considerations over how the hostages have been freed, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu describing the method as “humiliating ceremonies”.
MINUTE’S SILENCE
Israel’s parliament held a minute of silence to mourn the deaths of three members of the Bibas household, in addition to different victims of the Oct 7 assault on Israel.
“Yesterday, the funeral of Oded Lifshitz came about; at present, the funeral of Shiri, Kfir and Ariel Bibas is happening. We keep in mind all of the victims of Oct 7. We keep in mind, and we won’t neglect,” stated Amir Ohana, speaker of the Knesset.
Because the ceasefire took impact on Jan 19, Hamas has launched 25 dwelling hostages in public ceremonies throughout Gaza, the place masked, armed fighters have escorted the captives onto levels embellished with slogans.
Israel has launched greater than 1,100 Palestinian prisoners.
The Worldwide Committee of the Pink Cross has urged all events to hold out prisoner and hostage swaps “in a dignified and personal method”.
In Israel, the prisoners are largely seen as “terrorists” for the violent assaults they’ve carried out in opposition to civilians and safety forces.
For Palestinians, nonetheless, the releases are seen as long-delayed justice with the prisoners usually considered symbols of resistance in opposition to Israeli occupation.
