The cease-fire settlement reached between Israel and Hamas this week units in movement the discharge of dozens of hostages that Hamas and its allies have been holding in Gaza because the begin of the struggle greater than a yr in the past.
About 100 hostages, residing and useless, are considered held captive in Gaza. Most of them had been seized when Hamas stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, in an assault that killed about 1,200 folks and noticed about 250 taken hostage.
Based on the deal, 33 of these remaining hostages might be launched throughout an preliminary six-week part of the cease-fire, the primary main launch since a weeklong truce in November 2023. In alternate, Israel will launch greater than 1,000 imprisoned Palestinians.
The primary hostage-for-prisoner swap will start no sooner than 4 p.m. on Sunday, in keeping with the deal. Here’s what else we learn about how the plan foresees their launch.
Who’re the hostages being launched?
The 33 hostages who might be launched within the first part embrace feminine troopers and civilians, kids, males over 50 and sick and wounded “humanitarian” circumstances.
The hostages who match that profile embrace younger feminine troopers kidnapped from a navy base; older males dragged from border villages close to the Gaza Strip; and two younger kids, certainly one of whom was lower than a yr previous in the course of the Hamas-led assault.
Israeli officers estimate that round 35 of the entire remaining captives in Gaza are useless. However the captives have been held incommunicado for over a yr, making assessing their situation tough.
In a televised handle on Saturday night, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, stated “most” of the 33 hostages who might be freed beneath the settlement had been believed to be alive. The residing hostages might be freed first, in keeping with the settlement, after which Hamas will ship our bodies within the sixth and last week of the preliminary truce.
How will the discharge work?
The releases might be staggered, in keeping with the plan. On the primary day, Hamas will launch three feminine residing hostages in alternate for Palestinian prisoners. On the seventh day, 4 feminine residing hostages might be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners.
From the 14th day via the fifth week of the settlement, Palestinian prisoners might be launched each seven days in alternate for 3 female and male hostages.
The remaining hostages agreed to within the first part might be launched in alternate for Palestinian prisoners in the course of the sixth week.
Additionally in the course of the sixth week, as soon as all 33 hostages have been freed and returned to Israel, Israel will launch 47 prisoners who had been rearrested after being launched in a 2011 deal that noticed over 1,000 Palestinians freed in alternate for a captive Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit.
Israeli authorities have established three reception factors to obtain the hostages alongside the Gaza border, in keeping with an Israeli navy official who spoke on situation of anonymity in accordance with protocol. These reception factors might be staffed by Israeli troopers, medical doctors and psychologists, stated the official.
What number of Palestinian prisoners might be freed?
Over 1,000 — that means the preliminary deal will possible grow to be one of many largest prisoner exchanges in Israeli historical past if accomplished.
Dozens of Palestinians held in Israel might be launched for every hostage within the preliminary six week part, together with some serving life sentences.
The deal outlines the factors of the hostage-for-prisoner swap. Based on the settlement, the discharge of a residing feminine hostage or civilian beneath the age of 18 requires the discharge of 30 Palestinian prisoners who’re ladies or minors.
The 2 sides will swap every Israeli civilian man who’s 50 or older and is alive for 30 Palestinian prisoners. An Israeli feminine soldier who’s alive requires the discharge of fifty Palestinian prisoners. A complete of 110 Palestinian prisoners might be launched in alternate for 9 Israeli male civilians who’re wounded or sick.
Israel may also launch round 1,000 Gazans who had been detained over the course of the struggle, on the situation that they didn’t take part within the Hamas-led assault in October 2023.
What number of hostages have already been launched?
Some 105 hostages — largely ladies and youngsters — had been freed in November 2023 throughout a weeklong truce between Israel and Hamas. In alternate, Israel launched 240 Palestinian ladies and teenage prisoners in Israeli jails.
Early within the struggle, Hamas unilaterally launched 4 hostages — two Israeli-American ladies and two Israeli ladies. Israel has additionally managed to free eight hostages in navy operations, not less than certainly one of which was accompanied by devastating bombing and excessive Palestinian casualties.
The our bodies of greater than 35 others had been introduced again to Israel in numerous operations over the course of the struggle, in keeping with the Israeli authorities.
What number of hostages left in Gaza are People?
In a speech on Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken stated seven People had been nonetheless being held captive. Edan Alexander and Sagui Dekel-Chen had been believed to be alive as of December, in keeping with the American Jewish Committee.
A couple of of the remaining 5 had been declared useless early within the struggle. Their our bodies stay in Gaza.
Ephrat Livni contributed reporting.
