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Gaza Strip to witness first temporary humanitarian truce, prisoners to be exchanged between two parties today

Gaza Strip to witness first temporary humanitarian truce, prisoners to be exchanged between two parties today
24 Nov 2023 10:18

Shaaban Bilal (Gaza, Cairo) - A temporary humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip and a prisoner exchange between Israel and the Palestinians is set to begin today at 7am, under Qatari, Egyptian, and American mediation to cease fire for four days.

According to the announced agreement, 50 Israeli hostages will be released in four batches during the days of the truce, with the first batch of 13 women and children set to be released at 4pm today.

Details on how the hostages will be transported were not disclosed for security reasons. The Qatari Foreign Ministry stated that the Red Cross and the Red Crescent would be a part of the hostage handover process, expecting both parties to comply with the terms of the agreement.

The Ministry added that it looks forward to the humanitarian truce, expressing hope that it would lead to the start of a greater effort to achieve a permanent truce and lasting peace. Diaa Rashwan, head of the Egyptian General Authority for Information, announced on Thursday that Cairo has received lists of to-be-released detainees and prisoners from both the Palestinian and Israeli sides.

Rashwan said in a statement on the Authority’s website: “Egypt confirms what has been announced about the commencement of the agreed-upon truce in the Gaza Strip, at exactly 7am on Friday.” Egypt has called on both parties to commit to implementing the agreement as planned, according to Rashwan.

The truce was initially scheduled to begin on Thursday but was postponed due to “last-minute” negotiations for the final agreement on the technical and logistical matters of the prisoner exchange process between the two parties. The exchange will start today, after intensive contacts and meetings involving Egyptian and Qatari mediation, as well as parties to the conflict.

The meetings discussed the implementation of the truce plan and included the submission of lists of names of individuals who would be released. Political experts and analysts see the truce agreement as an opportunity to improve conditions in the Gaza Strip, particularly the difficult humanitarian situation, by delivering more medical aid and relief.

However, they also warn against “over-optimism”, as this truce is fundamentally linked to prisoner exchange and not the end of the war. Jibril Rajoub, Secretary-General of the Central Committee of the Fatah movement, said that the truce was a response to international dissatisfaction and pressure placed on Israel, adding that the cessation of war in Gaza is a step towards stopping unilateral policies in Palestinian territories.

Rajoub told Aletihad that the truce is a step towards stopping all hostilities in the Gaza Strip, noting that the continuation of this conflict threatens regional stability. Former Assistant Foreign Minister of Egypt and Director of the Israel Department, Ambassador Jamal Bayoumi, stressed that the international community should not be too optimistic about this truce, recognising that it could give the residents of Gaza a chance to breathe by allowing the entry of humanitarian and medical aid.

In his statements to Aletihad, the Egyptian diplomat expressed hope that the truce would lead to stopping violence against civilians, including children and women, demolishing homes, and displacing Palestinians. Jordanian political and strategic analyst Dr. Amer Al-Sabaileh highlighted the need to see this truce for what it is, as it is strictly related to hostages.

Al-Sabaileh told Aletihad that the truce should not be linked to stopping the war in the Gaza Strip. He added that Israel will not stop its operations in Gaza, as evidenced by the country’s actions over the past weeks. However, he expressed hope that the truce would later establish other humanitarian truces, as the war is still ongoing.

Palestinian politician and spokesman for the Democratic Reform Current of the Fatah movement, Imad Mohsen, said that the truce is an opportunity to catch a breath and continue searching for victims under the rubble of homes destroyed by the bombings. It also presents a chance to see female prisoners in Israeli jails breathe freedom, he underlined.

Mohsen told Aletihad that the start of the first truce marks the countdown to the war’s end, adding that ultimately, the resilience of the Palestinian people and their adherence to their inalienable rights will benefit this cause.

In the first phase, the agreement includes the exchange of 50 Israeli prisoners, including women and children situated in the Gaza Strip, in exchange for releasing a number of Palestinian women and children detained in Israeli prisons. Additional releases are expected in subsequent phases of the agreement’s implementation.

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