Head of the Israeli National Security Council, Tzachi Hanegbi, made a statement regarding the prisoner exchange process, which is expected to take effect on Thursday.
Hanegbi said that negotiations to release the prisoners are “making steady progress,” adding that “the release will begin in accordance with the original agreement between the two parties and will not happen before this Friday.” He said.
The Israeli press described the announcement as a “delay.”
The Israeli government Kan TV reported that “the families of the Israeli prisoners were not informed of the delay in implementing the agreement before it was announced to the press.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said in the program he attended on Israeli Army Radio that the first group of Israeli prisoners will be seized on November 23 within the scope of the agreement.
Israeli state television had also announced that the first batch of Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip would be released as of 10:00 a.m. Thursday.
In addition, the head of Hamas’s International Relations Office, Musa Abu Marzouk, announced that reconciliation with Israel, which will provide a humanitarian truce to the conflict, will begin at 10 a.m. on November 23.
Netanyahu stated that the prisoner exchange agreement would not include those who caused the deaths of Israelis
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas will not include those accused of killing Israelis.
During a joint press conference with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant, Netanyahu made statements regarding the prisoner exchange agreement.
Netanyahu stated that the Red Cross would visit other prisoners not included in the prisoner exchange agreement and provide them with medicines. Netanyahu stated that this was included in the terms of the agreement, and he expressed his hope that the organization would do its duty.
“This agreement will not include those who kill Israelis.” Netanyahu said that, as prime minister, he faced difficult choices regarding the prisoners, and that he spent all his time trying to persuade the prisoners to return to Israel.
Netanyahu said that Israel has been able to rescue prisoners through military operations throughout its history, “but this is not always successful, so we did not wait and take every opportunity to release our hostages.” He said.
Netanyahu indicated that the security institutions and the Israeli army agreed to the prisoner exchange agreement, and said, “Our security forces will ensure their security during the temporary ceasefire period, while the intelligence effort will continue and the army will remain ready for war.” He said.
“I want to be clear.” Netanyahu said:
He added: “The war will continue until we achieve all our goals, which are to destroy Hamas and recover all our hostages. It will be ensured that no terror-supporting element takes control of Gaza the day after the war. Gaza will not pose a threat to Israel’s future. Political and military efforts led to the ripening of conditions for the return of the hostages. He added: “I believe that this situation will also enable the release of more hostages in the next stages.”
– Prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel
The Israeli and international press reported that in the first phase of the agreement, Hamas would release between 50 and 80 Israeli women and children detained in Gaza. In return, it was reported that Israel is expected to release at least 150 Palestinian detainees, most of whom are women and children.
He stated that the prisoner exchange would take place by declaring a 4-day ceasefire in Gaza, and that about 300 trucks per day would be allowed to enter Gaza within the scope of the agreement.
Israel says that the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, is holding 239 Israeli prisoners.
There are approximately 7,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli occupation prisons, more than 2,000 of whom are administrative detainees.
Israeli forces have arrested about 3,000 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem since October 7. (aa)
release date: 02:55, 23 November 2023
(Tags for translation) Prime Minister