An evolving agreement between Hamas and Israel, reportedly building on a deal proposed by US President Donald Trump, outlines provisions for a multi-faceted exchange. As part of this ceasefire arrangement, Hamas has submitted a list of prisoners it seeks released, including Marwan Barghouti – who was convicted of deadly attacks on Israeli civilians and is widely recognized as a popular Palestinian leader – and Saadat.
The deal anticipates the release of approximately 20 Israeli hostages, along with the return of the bodies of deceased hostages. In return, Israel is slated to free around 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, in addition to approximately 1,700 Palestinians detained from Gaza. The Israeli justice ministry has indicated that Barghouti, if released, would either be transferred to Gaza or deported abroad.
The initial phase of this agreement saw a ceasefire commence on Friday, alongside a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from designated areas of Gaza. This broader conflict was triggered by Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and 251 individuals being taken hostage. Since that date, the Hamas-run health ministry reports that 67,682 Palestinians have been killed during Israel’s subsequent military operations in Gaza.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd727d2ne42o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss