The Israel-Hamas Interaction in Gaza after the Hamas Oct. 7 Attack: The United States’ Mid-High-Energy Support
The deal, brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the U.S., is set to go into effect when the first Israeli hostages are released by Hamas. A leader of the militant group suggested that could come as soon as Thursday morning.
White House officials said that over the last several weeks, Mr. Biden had concluded that convincing Mr. Netanyahu to accept a dayslong suspension of the fighting — rather than more limited pauses for several hours at a time — would require linking the break to a deal to free hostages from captivity in the tunnels used by Hamas fighters.
The White House and Prime Minister Netanyahu have clashed over the Israeli response to the Hamas attacks in Gaza, which has left about 12,000 people dead. Mr. Biden has tried to persuade the prime minister to halt the bombardment of Gaza so that humanitarian aid and civilians can be provided.
Mr. Netanyahu has consistently refused to consider a wide-scale halt to Israel’s military operations in Gaza unless it would lead to the release of the hostages.
In a statement late Tuesday, President Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden were “keeping all those held hostage and their loved ones close to our hearts these many weeks, and I am extraordinarily gratified that some of these brave souls, who have endured weeks of captivity and an unspeakable ordeal, will be reunited with their families once this deal is fully implemented.”
Israel says it will keep fighting in Gaza after the exchange deal is complete. But it says it is willing to extend the temporary cease-fire up to five more days, and free an additional 150 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, if Hamas frees 50 additional Israeli hostages — which could bring the total number of those ultimately freed under the deal to 100 Israelis and 300 Palestinians.
It comes more than six weeks into an intense war in Gaza triggered by Hamas’ massive Oct. 7 attack on Israel, in which Israel says militants killed some 1,200 Israelis and seized around 240 hostages. The latest data from the Gaza health ministry shows that more than 12,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s bombardments.
Although the names of the Israelis that Hamas intends to free have not been made public, news of the deal sparked hope among families on both sides of conflict who have waited anxiously for the release of their loved ones.
On the list are 33 women and the remainder are teenage boys aged 14-18. Some have been charged with offenses such as stone-throwing and have been arrested by Israeli forces in recent years. Most are detainees awaiting trial on charges including incitement, stone-throwing and attempted murder. Some are being held without charge or trial.
“Holding people as hostages is itself illegal, a war crime, and Hamas should release all the hostages unconditionally. Jessica Montell is the executive director of the Israeli human rights group HaMoked, which provides legal aid to Palestinians.
If Sharon and Noam are freed, the Israeli army will let him know ahead of time, said a member of the family.
A Palestinian resident of Jerusalem, Yousef Afghani, was surprised to see his 40-year-old daughter Aisha Afghani on Israel’s list of prisoners it is prepared to release. She has served seven years of her 15-year sentence, convicted for an attempted 2016 stabbing in which no one was wounded. Her father told NPR that she did not intend to stab anyone.
My feelings are the feelings of a father. Afghani spoke to NPR about celebration and happiness. He was a critic of the kidnapping of Israelis to Gaza, which lead to the freeing of his daughter. “We don’t want an attack on civilians.”
Pope Francis met with Israeli relatives of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, as well as families of Palestinians held in Israel. Francis said he felt that both sides were suffering but that the conflict had “gone beyond war”. This is not a war, it’s terrorism.
In addition to Israelis and U.S. citizens, foreigners from several other countries are among the people believed to be held by Hamas. Among them are more than 20 Thai farm laborers seized near the Gaza border in the Oct. 7 attack. Fox understands the Thais aren’t part of the exchange deal.
Israel’s Channel 12 news says the deal allows “significant” humanitarian aid into Gaza, including desperately needed fuel to run generators — the only source of electricity throughout much of the besieged territory. After last month’s Hamas attack on Israel, 2.2 million people in the Gaza Strip have experienced a serious lack of food, water, and medical supplies. Hamas said “hundreds” of trucks carrying aid and fuel would be allowed to enter Gaza.
Bin Laden meets Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and Egypt’s Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi
Biden thanked Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi for help in brokering the deal.
Speaking in Qatar, Al Thani said he hopes the humanitarian truce could provide a framework to “stop the war machine and bloodshed.” El-Sisi said Egypt would continue “efforts made to reach final and sustainable solutions that achieve justice, impose peace, and guarantee the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.”