Israeli forces in Gaza (photo from the Israeli army Twitter account)
Middle East
Minister Benny Gantz warned during the conference that what happens in Gaza could happen in Beirut
The countdown has begun for the implementation of the agreement on the exchange of prisoners and detainees between Israel and Hamas, as part of the first truce in the ferocious war waged by Israel in the Gaza Strip, which has entered its forty-seventh day amid calls from United Nations institutions and world leaders to be one step closer to a permanent ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that the war in Gaza will continue until Israel achieves its goals of “destroying” Hamas, repatriating detainees and eliminating any threats posed by the Strip.
Netanyahu said in a joint press conference with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and War Council member Benny Gantz: “We have clearly defined the objectives of the war, which are to eliminate Hamas, release the hostages and make sure that the next day war, Hamas will not pose a threat to Israel.”
He stressed that reaching an agreement on the exchange of prisoners and a temporary truce in Gaza is the result of “enormous and continuous military and diplomatic pressure,” stressing that the agreement includes a visit by the Red Cross to the rest of the detained detainees by Hamas and providing them with the necessary medicines.
Your browser does not support HTML5 videos
However, the prime minister underlined Israel’s commitment to resuming fighting and said he had informed US President Joe Biden that it would continue its operations after the truce ends. He also stressed that any future exchange plan would not include the release of Palestinians “accused of committing the murder of Israelis.”
Netanyahu’s statements precede the entry into force of the agreement on the exchange of prisoners and detainees and of the four-day truce announced in the early hours of this morning by Israel and Hamas, which in the first phase provides for the release of around 50 women and children Israelis. exchange with Israel’s release of approximately 150 Palestinian prisoners, most of whom are women and minors.
For his part, Gallant expressed in the press conference his hope that the agreed proposal will be implemented, underlining that its results will be reflected in the coming days. The defense minister stressed that the army is committed to bringing the war to an end until Israel achieves its goals of “destroying” Hamas and returning detainees.
In turn, Israeli War Minister Benny Gantz warned during the conference that what happens in Gaza could happen in Beirut.
Previously, the Israeli prime minister’s spokesperson told Al Arabiya that the truce would be renewed in exchange for the release of some Hamas hostages.
The spokesperson stressed in an interview with Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath that the Israeli army destroyed hundreds of Hamas tunnels and command centers in Gaza.
Private sources revealed to Al Arabiya that mediators have given Tel Aviv the list of names of Israeli prisoners who will be released by Hamas, confirming that arrangements are underway for the Red Cross to hand over the prisoners, who will in turn transport them to Egypt and from Egypt they will be transferred to Tel Aviv.
Your browser does not support HTML5 videos
Al-Arabiya sources reported that ambulances would be at the Rafah crossing to conduct medical tests on arriving prisoners, underlining that Israel had been informed to stop any shootings or aerial flights during the process of receiving the prisoners.
Israel faces a ‘long war’
Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari also said Wednesday that Israel faces a “long war” in the Gaza Strip, underlining its commitment to eliminating the Hamas movement. Hagari declared in a press conference that he was not aware of the timing of the entry into force of the truce on which Israel and Hamas announced today that they had reached an agreement, specifying only that work is underway to complete the implementation of the first phase of the exchange of prisoners.
For his part, the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, said that the organization will mobilize all its capabilities to support the implementation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, and will also make every effort to maximize the positive impact of the truce agreement. on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and that the agreement between Israel and the Palestinians is an important step in the right direction, but that efforts, further efforts, must be made.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said in his Platform X briefing on Wednesday that humanitarian agencies are ready to increase the volume of aid in Gaza and distribute it across the Strip.
Catherine Russell, executive director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said the organization hopes this agreement will improve the delivery of humanitarian aid to the sector. But Russell said in a speech before the UN Security Council that “the limited ceasefire in Gaza is not enough, and the war and killing of children must end immediately.”
Palestinians have expressed their dissatisfaction with a truce that will not be complete in their eyes unless it brings them back to their homes, especially since four days does not equal the scale of the destruction that has befallen them.