Israel Hamas Ceasefire Deal: After 15 months of Israel-Hamas war, all the processes regarding 42-day ceasefire have been completed. The eyes of the whole world are on the agreement between Israel and Hamas that both will release each other’s citizens.
Under the agreement, there will be a ceasefire of 42 days in the first phase of this agreement. It will start on Sunday morning (January 19, 2025). The terms of this agreement are that Hamas will release 32 hostages who were abducted during the October 7, 2023 attack. On the other hand, Israel will also release 737 Palestinian prisoners. Although all the formalities of this deal have been completed, clouds of crisis are still looming over the deal.
Netanyahu’s minister resigns in protest against agreement
Israel’s right-wing National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has resigned from Prime Minister Netanyahu’s cabinet in protest against the Gaza ceasefire agreement. There were protests against this ceasefire. During the meeting regarding the agreement in the Security Cabinet on Friday, he also voted against it.
Why is Netanyahu hinting at breaking the agreement?
Hours before the ceasefire agreement was to take effect, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel had still not received a list of the names of the hostages whom Hamas is going to release, which could stall the deal. Netanyahu said in a statement issued by his office, “We will not move forward with this framework until we receive a list of hostages to be released. Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement. He is on the side of Hamas.”
According to the Times of Israel, the agreement between Israel and Hamas states that Hamas will have to provide the names of the hostages at least 24 hours before their release. This time should have been 4 pm local time, but the Israeli PM has said that the list of hostages has not been given yet.
Israeli PMO has said that PM Benjamin Netanyahu is going to issue a statement shortly. Netanyahu has not given any public speech since undergoing prostate surgery last month. Meanwhile, the families of the kidnapped hostages had asked PM Netanyahu to address the public and announce that the war is ending.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
“We will be unable to move forward with the framework until we receive the list of the hostages who will be released, as was agreed. Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement. Hamas is solely responsible.”
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) January 18, 2025
Israeli army busy arranging hostages
The Israeli army has started preparations for the possible release of the hostages. The IDF says that it has completed all its preparations to receive the hostages to be released by Hamas from the Gaza Strip under the ceasefire agreement. The army has established three camps near the Gaza border. These camps have been set up at the Reim base, the Kerem Shalom crossing and the Erez crossing, where the hostages will meet with IDF representatives, including doctors, psychologists and mental health officers, and will be given first aid.
Over the past day, the IDF—led by the Manpower Directorate and the Medical Corps—completed preparations for receiving the hostages from Gaza upon their return to Israel. The IDF, in coordination with the Health Ministry, additional government ministries, and security authorities,… pic.twitter.com/prr8nibD8i
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) January 18, 2025
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