Egypt Confirms Israel to Free 1,890 Palestinian Detainees in Initial Phase of Gaza Ceasefire Agreement

Cairo, Jan 19 (NationPress) Egypt has confirmed that Israel will liberate over 1,890 Palestinian detainees as part of an agreement where the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) will release 33 Israeli captives during the initial phase of the Gaza ceasefire accord.

This arrangement, facilitated through Egyptian mediation alongside regional and international partners, is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT) on Sunday, according to a statement from the Egyptian foreign ministry released on Saturday.

In the first phase of the ceasefire, lasting 42 days, Hamas will free 33 Israeli detainees in exchange for Israel freeing over 1,890 Palestinian prisoners, the ministry noted.

The mediators reiterated their dedication to ensuring the agreement's full and timely execution across all three phases, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Egypt expressed optimism that this ceasefire agreement would pave the way for alleviating the hardships faced by the Palestinian people, urging the international community, particularly the United States, to support and reinforce the agreement's implementation and the establishment of a lasting ceasefire.

Moreover, Egypt called on the global community to provide essential humanitarian aid to the Palestinian populace and to devise an immediate reconstruction strategy for Gaza.

Egypt emphasized the urgency of developing a roadmap to rebuild trust between both parties, noting that this roadmap should encourage a return to negotiations and address the Palestinian issue within the two-state solution framework, in line with resolutions of international legitimacy.

This solution seeks to establish an independent Palestinian state along the lines of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem designated as its capital, as stated.

In collaboration with Qatar and the United States, Egypt will set up a joint operations center based in Egypt, tasked with overseeing the exchange of detainees and prisoners, the distribution of humanitarian aid, and the movement of individuals following the reopening of the Rafah crossing.

Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire-for-hostages agreement following extensive mediation by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.

Since the onset of hostilities on October 7, 2023, Hamas and Israel have been embroiled in intense conflict, resulting in over 46,000 Palestinian fatalities in Gaza and unprecedented devastation. The hostilities erupted after Hamas executed a surprise assault on Israel, leading to Israeli casualties and hostage situations.