According to Egypt
33 Israeli hostages in exchange for almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners
Just hours before the planned ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, mediator Egypt gives details of the deal. Meanwhile, there is a problem with the hostage list.
As part of the agreement between Israel and the radical Islamic Hamas, more than 1,890 Palestinian prisoners are to be released in the first phase of the ceasefire, according to Egyptian information. This figure, given by the Foreign Ministry in Cairo on Saturday afternoon, is more than twice as high as previous Israeli figures, which reported 737 prisoners being released.
Egypt acted as a mediator in the negotiations on the ceasefire agreement together with the USA and Qatar. Hamas, for its part, has pledged to release 33 of the hostages it is holding in the first phase of the ceasefire. This first phase is scheduled to last six weeks and comes into force on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. local time (7:30 a.m. German time).
Before the ceasefire: Hamas is said to have not yet handed over the list of hostages
A problem shortly before the ceasefire: According to Israeli information, the Islamist Hamas has not yet provided a list with the names of the three hostages who are scheduled to be released on Sunday. “Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Without the list of names, Israel will not continue implementing the agreement, he warned.
Hamas sources said the organization would send the list with the names of the three hostages in the coming hours.
According to the agreement, Hamas must inform Israel 24 hours in advance of the names of the hostages to be released. According to Israeli media, three civilians kidnapped from Israel will initially be released. According to reports, Hamas should have handed over the list at 4:00 p.m. local time (3:00 p.m. CET). According to the Israeli news site “Ynet”, the release of the first hostages was planned for Sunday at 3:00 p.m. CET.
The Israeli authorities believe that the 33 hostages are alive, although confirmation from Hamas was still pending. The Red Cross will receive the first hostages on Sunday together with Egyptian and Qatari teams. They would then be taken to Egypt and handed over to the Israeli side.
DPA · AFP
mkb
Source: Stern
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