Epoch Times
2 American hostages are expected to be released as part of the 6-week cease-fire deal, due to take effect on Sunday.
Published Jan 15, 2025
Destroyed buildings stand inside the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. AP Photo/Ariel Schalit
Pinned
What We Know About the Cease-Fire Deal
By Jackson Richman and T.J. Muscaro
3 hours ago
A deal has been struck between Israel and Hamas to temporarily stop the fighting and exchange hostages being held by both Hamas and Israel.
Here is what we know so far about the agreement:
- A six-week pause in fighting will begin on Sunday.
- Hamas will release 33 hostages, while Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israel.
- Women, elderly, and wounded hostages will be released first, including American hostages.
- The six-week cease-fire is to allow for negotiations for a permanent end to the conflict. If these negotiations continue beyond six weeks, the cease-fire will remain in place.
- The Israeli military will withdraw from some positions in Gaza while remaining in others, including the Philadelphi corridor on the Egypt–Gaza border.
White House Outlines Hostage–Prisoner Exchange Policy
By T.J. Muscaro
A senior Biden administration official outlined the exchange formula used for hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Under the deal, 33 hostages will be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas holds nearly 100 Israeli hostages, and the Israeli military believes about a third are dead.
There is an equation for the number of prisoners needed to free certain hostages, referred to in the negotiation as “keys,” the official told reporters during a press call on Wednesday.
“For female soldiers, for example, there’s a key,” the official said. “For elderly males, there’s a key, and for women civilians, there’s a key. And this has all been worked out.”
The official said that the Israelis have conducted exchanges this way in the past.
The Israelis demanded that all prisoners and hostages be known and agreed upon, the official said. That requirement caused the latest pause in negotiations in December 2024 because Hamas disagreed with the stipulation.
After Christmas, Hamas came back and agreed to a list of hostages to be released, the official said. Negotiations for this deal resumed on Jan. 5, and have been ongoing.
However, the Biden administration does not believe that the list of Palestinian prisoners being exchanged was going to be released.
Netanyahu: Cease-Fire Agreement Still Incomplete
By T.J. Muscaro
1 hour ago
While American and Qatari leaders have announced a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the deal is still not finalized.
Netanyahu said in a statement on Jan. 15 that the final details are still being worked out.
He added that he will only issue a formal statement “after the final details of the agreement, which are currently being worked on, are completed.”
The prime minister has not yet explicitly stated whether he will sign the deal or not.
US Viewed Cease-Fire Impossible as Long as Sinwar Was Alive
By T.J. Muscaro
1 hour ago
A senior Biden administration official said a cease-fire in the Israel–Hamas war was determined to be impossible as long as Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar remained in charge of the Gaza Strip.
Authorities concluded this last summer when it became clear that Sinwar was not interested in making a deal, the official said in a press call Wednesday. After Hamas refused a cease-fire proposal in August 2024, the group killed several hostages in a tunnel underneath Rafa, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
“Obviously that event set back any effort, say the least, to pursue a hostage deal,” the official said. “And we basically concluded that so long as Yahya Sinwar was alive, we are not going to get a deal for a cease-fire, hostage release.”
5 Female Israeli Soldiers Among First Hostages to be Released: White House
By T.J. Muscaro
1 hour ago
A senior Biden administration official confirmed that five female Israeli soldiers will be released in the first wave of hostage–prisoner exchange beginning as early as Jan. 19.
“These are women Israeli soldiers who have been living in horrific conditions for a year and a half, and we hope to see them coming out and being returned to their families,” the official said. “On Sunday, they will be exchanged for a number of Palestinian Prisoners.”
The official also said that negotiating teams on both sides have gone through the list of prisoners and hostages and “there is now no question” on which hostages will be released.
“This process for the Israelis to choose the prisoners and agree with Hamas is difficult and takes time, and you have lists of hundreds of prisoners, and you’re working through that,” the official said. “We were working through that last night.”
Under the deal, Hamas will release 33 hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Hamas holds nearly 100 Israeli hostages, though Israel’s military believes at least a third are dead.
White House: 2 Americans Expected to Be Freed in First Phase
2 hours ago
The two Americans that are expected to be freed in the first phase of the cease-fire are Keith Siegel and Sagui Dekel-Chen, a Biden administration official told reporters on Wednesday.
In total, 33 hostages being held in Gaza will be released by Hamas for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners being held by Israel during the six-week deal. If negotiations continue after this time, the cease-fire will remain in place.
Comment from Truth Uncensored Afrika: Articles taken from a pro-Israel site.
Leave a Reply