After long weeks of negotiations, representatives of Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. The deal also provides for the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. Benjamin Netanyahu’s government must now give the green light.
For the first time since November 2023, the guns will fall silent in Gaza, at least temporarily. After more than 15 months of war between Israel and Hamas, the two belligerents reached a ceasefire agreement on Wednesday evening. A deal concluded, under the mediation of Qatar, first announced by Donald Trump on his Truth Social network, which provides for the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. The Israeli government must give the green light to the agreement this Thursday.
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Facts to remember:
- 33 Israeli hostages will be exchanged for 1,000 Palestinian prisoners
- The Israeli government has not yet confirmed the agreement
- “No certainty” about the fate of the two Franco-Israeli hostages according to Jean-Noël Barrot
The Israeli government must decide
The Israeli government itself has not yet confirmed the agreement, and the Civil Defense of the Gaza Strip again reported Wednesday evening the death of 20 people in Israeli strikes that occurred after the announcement.
The “final details” are still being finalized, according to a statement released overnight by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, he has already thanked Donald Trump and Joe Biden, whose teams worked closely on the subject, for their help in the agreement for “the release of the hostages”.
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A meeting of the Israeli Council of Ministers is expected during the day of Thursday to examine the agreement and, barring any surprises, validate it, with the head of government having a majority, despite disagreements.
China “welcomes” ceasefire agreement
China “welcomed” on Wednesday the agreement between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza, calling for its “effective” implementation while the Israeli government has yet to give its final green light.
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“China welcomes the agreement on a swap between a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza, expressing hope that this agreement will be effectively implemented and pave the way for a ceasefire “complete and permanent fire,” said Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, at a regular press conference in Beijing.
“This is not the end of the war”, warns Manuel Valls
On Europe 1 and CNews this Thursday morning, Manuel Valls calls for caution. The Overseas Minister warns that “this is not the end of the war” and “hopes” that the hostages will be released as provided for in the agreement. “Let’s wait because there are still discussions,” he adds.
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“No certainty” about the fate of the two Franco-Israeli hostages, says Jean-Noël Barrot
The head of French diplomacy Jean-Noël Barrot indicated Thursday on RTL that there was “no certainty” about the fate of the two Franco-Israeli hostages still detained in the Gaza Strip, Ofer Kalderon and Ohad Yahalomi. “For too many months, we have not heard from them (…) We sincerely hope that they can return to us alive and in good health,” declared Jean-Noël Barrot, while a truce providing the release of hostages must come into force on Sunday between Israel and Hamas.
“The agreement must be respected” and “a political solution must come”, says Macron
Emmanuel Macron affirmed on Wednesday evening that the agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza must be “respected” and that a “political solution” must “happen”.
“After fifteen months of unjustifiable ordeal, immense relief for the Gazans, hope for the hostages and their families. This evening, my thoughts are with Ofer (Kalderon) and Ohad (Yahalomi)”, the two Franco-Israelis held by the Islamist movement Palestinian, declared the French president on
Hostages, truce… What we know about the agreement
Hamas is to release 33 hostages held in Gaza in exchange for the release of around 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in the first stage of a truce deal that takes effect on Sunday. Priority will be given to women, children, men over 50, young men, injured or sick. This first phase therefore does not concern all of the 60 presumed hostages still alive in captivity as of January 15. In return, the Jewish State has committed to releasing 30 Palestinian prisoners for every Israeli civilian, and 50 for every soldier.
Exchanges will begin on Sunday, the first day of the ceasefire, and will continue, little by little, for the duration of the announced truce, namely 42 days. It could be extended depending on the progress of negotiations in the coming weeks. New discussions, relating to the release of all the hostages, will begin 16 days after the first day of the ceasefire in Gaza.
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