Israel has agreed to accept the four female hostages Hamas said it would release on Saturday — despite protesting that Hamas breached the cease-fire deal.
The list of names provided by Hamas, which Israel has asked the media not to release until families are notified, violated the terms of the agreement, which requires Hamas to release all living female hostages before female IDF soldiers, The Times of Israel reported Friday.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top Israeli officials convened and informed mediators that the list violated the deal — but determined that they would move forward with the list as is.
Per the 42-day cease-fire agreement that began last Monday, Hamas must release all of the female civilian hostages before then freeing female IDF soldiers. REUTERS
Hamas has published the names of four female Israeli hostages it is set to release tomorrow in an apparent violation of its cease-fire deal with Israel. REUTERSOfficials determined the violation was not serious enough to blow up the cease-fire deal — but it remains to be seen if Israel, who is scheduled to begin letting Palestinians return to northern Gaza tomorrow, will retaliate, The Times of Israel reported Friday.
Per the 42-day cease-fire agreement that began last Monday, Hamas must release all of the female civilian hostages before then freeing female IDF soldiers.
This week, Israel has demanded that Hamas free civilian hostage Arbel Yehud — a 29-year-old woman who was kidnapped from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz — be part of this weekend’s exchange, according to The Times of Israel.
This week, Israel has demanded that Hamas free civilian hostage Arbel Yehud 29, be part of this weekend’s exchange, according to The Times of Israel. REUTERS
Israel agreed to allow 30 Palestinian women, children, and elderly prisoners to go in exchange for every civilian hostage freed from Gaza. AFP via Getty ImagesThere are seven remaining female hostages: civilians Yehud and Shiri Silberman Bibas, 33; and soldiers Liri Albag, 19, Karina Ariev, 20, Agam Berger, 21, Danielle Gilboa, 20, and Naama Levy, 20.
As agreed upon in the deal, Yehud, being a civilian, should be in the group of prisoners to be released on Saturday.
However Yehud is believed to be in the custody of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and not Hamas, possibly complicating the matter, reported CNN.
On the first day of the cease-fire, Hamas freed three Israeli women in exchange for dozens of Palestinian prisoners. REUTERS
In the current first phase of the deal, fighting has stopped in Gaza for 42 days as 33 Israeli hostages are to be freed in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. APIn the current first phase of the precarious deal, fighting has stopped in Gaza for 42 days as 33 Israeli hostages are to be gradually freed from captivity in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
Last Sunday, on the first day of the cease-fire, Hamas freed three Israeli women — Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher — in exchange for dozens of Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas is set to release more hostages weekly.
Israel agreed to allow 30 Palestinian women, children, and elderly prisoners to go in exchange for every civilian hostage freed from Gaza.
For every female Israeli soldier released, the Jewish state will deliver 50 Palestinian prisoners — including 30 facing life sentences.
