A tense ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas faces potential collapse as disputes arise over the exchange of hostages and prisoners. The ceasefire, which has temporarily halted hostilities in the Gaza Strip, was established with the promise of releasing 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees from Gaza. The first phase of this agreement, coupled with a six-week truce, is set to expire on Saturday, raising concerns about its future.
On the brink of the truce's expiration, Hamas released six living Israeli hostages, marking the beginning of the final week of the ceasefire's first phase. However, tensions escalated when Israeli authorities accused Hamas of killing two hostages, Ariel and Kfir, "with their bare hands," a claim strongly denied by Hamas. The group contended that the boys died during an Israeli airstrike. Furthermore, a mishap occurred when Hamas mistakenly transferred the body of Shiri Bibas, another hostage, later in the day.
The ceasefire deal also stipulated the withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas in Gaza. In exchange for the 10 hostages released by Hamas, Israel was scheduled to release 620 Palestinian prisoners. However, Israel delayed this release, citing repeated violations by Hamas, including "humiliating" handover ceremonies.
Hamas condemned Israel's decision as a "blatant violation" of the agreement. The organization warned US, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators that further talks on extending the ceasefire would not proceed unless the agreed prisoners were freed.
"We have conveyed a clear and strong message to the mediators – we cannot continue discussing any further steps if these 620 Palestinians are not released," said Basem Naim.
The White House supported Israel's decision to postpone the prisoner release, labeling it an "appropriate response" to what it described as the "barbaric treatment" of hostages by Hamas. This backing from the United States adds another layer of complexity to the already delicate ceasefire negotiations.
Amidst these tensions, Gaza's humanitarian crisis remains severe. The Hamas-run health ministry reported at least 48,346 fatalities since the conflict's onset. Despite the ceasefire allowing hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to their northern homes and facilitating the entry of aid lorries into Gaza daily, the region continues to grapple with immense challenges.
Looking ahead, the deal's second phase aims for broader resolutions: releasing all remaining hostages, ensuring a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and establishing a permanent ceasefire. However, with less than a week remaining until the current truce's expiration and ongoing disputes over prisoner exchanges, achieving these milestones remains uncertain.
"We're hopeful that we have the proper time… to begin phase two, and finish it off and get more hostages released," expressed Steve Witkoff.
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