International
Hamas Names Three Israeli Women for Release Amid Ceasefire Deal
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- Hamas names three Israeli women captives for release as part of a prisoner exchange deal.
- Gaza truce, initially set for 8:30 a.m., delayed due to the late submission of captive names.
- Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 10 and injure 25, despite the ceasefire agreement.
Hamas announced that it had submitted to mediators the names of three Israeli women captives slated for release from Gaza.
“As part of the prisoner exchange deal, we decided to release today: Romi Gonen, 24, Emily Damari, 28, and Doron Steinbrecher, 31,” said Abu Obeida, spokesperson for Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, on Sunday.
Israeli authorities confirmed receipt of the list. This development potentially sets the stage for a ceasefire, delayed by hours, to begin at 8:30 a.m. local time (06:30 GMT).
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Despite the truce agreement, Israeli military operations in Gaza continued, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 Palestinians and injuries to 25 others. Earlier on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to withhold the start of the ceasefire until Hamas provided the names of the captives.
“The prime minister instructed the IDF that the ceasefire, which is supposed to go into effect at 8:30 a.m., will not begin until Israel has the list of released captives that Hamas has pledged to provide,” his office stated.
Hamas attributed the delay to “technical field reasons” and reiterated its commitment to the previously announced truce.
Netanyahu, in a separate address, underscored Israel’s right to resume military operations in Gaza should the second stage of the ceasefire prove unsuccessful. He indicated that the United States supports this stance.
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Police scuffle with demonstrators who block a road during a protest demanding a cease-fire deal and the immediate release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
Meanwhile, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power party announced its departure from the ruling coalition in protest of the ceasefire agreement. The party criticized the deal as a “capitulation to Hamas,” denouncing the release of “hundreds of murderers” and the perceived undermining of Israeli military achievements in Gaza. Despite this, Netanyahu retains a slim majority in parliament.
International mediators, including Qatar, have applied significant pressure on both Hamas and Israel to adhere to the ceasefire terms. Al Jazeera’s Stefanie Dekker, reporting from Amman, noted the difficulty of avoiding the implementation of the truce, though minor delays remained possible.
The first 42-day phase of the ceasefire outlines the release of 33 captives from Gaza and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody. It also includes provisions for Israeli forces to retreat into a buffer zone within Gaza, allowing many displaced Palestinians to return home and facilitating a substantial increase in humanitarian aid to the territory.
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This marks the second major pause in hostilities, anticipated to be more enduring and impactful than a previous weeklong truce over a year ago. Negotiations for a more complex second phase are set to commence in two weeks, addressing critical questions such as the fate of nearly 100 captives still held in Gaza and the potential resumption of conflict after the first phase.
The Israeli cabinet approved the ceasefire on Saturday in a rare session held during the Jewish Sabbath, following days of intense mediation. Both the outgoing Biden administration and incoming President-elect Donald Trump had exerted pressure on the parties to reach an agreement ahead of the U.S. presidential inauguration on Monday.
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