Gaza ceasefire set to start today with hostage exchange; Israeli troops retreat from Rafah

 


Gaza ceasefire set to start today with hostage exchange; Israeli troops retreat from Rafah 

On Sunday, Israeli troops initiated their withdrawal from Rafah in Gaza towards the Philadelphi corridor at the Egypt-Gaza border before the first phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas commences. This pullback is part of a three-step ceasefire plan facilitated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, aimed at ending the ongoing conflict that has lasted 15 months and resulted in nearly 47,000 Palestinian deaths, according to the Gaza health ministry's statistics. 

Following the agreement, Israel continued its military operations in Gaza, claiming that Hamas failed to uphold certain terms of the deal. As a result of post-agreement strikes, more than 70 Palestinians reportedly lost their lives, as stated by the Gaza health ministry. 

The inaugural phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas kicks off on Sunday. This initial stage will span six weeks and involves Hamas releasing 33 out of the remaining 98 hostages, which include women, children, men over 50, and those who are sick or injured, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees and prisoners held in Israel. 

On Sunday, the Red Cross will facilitate the release of three Israeli female hostages by the afternoon in exchange for 30 Hamas detainees. After a week, four additional female hostages will be freed, followed by the return of three more hostages every week, as explained by chief US negotiator Brett McGurk. 

During this initial stage, the Israeli military will withdraw from some positions in northern Gaza, allowing displaced Palestinians from these regions to return home. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks highlighted the unstable nature of the ceasefire. “We maintain the right to restart military actions if needed, with support from America,” he stated. 

This ceasefire agreement was established with the involvement of the US and Qatar. It takes effect just days before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20. Republican leaders had warned Hamas of severe consequences if the hostages weren’t released quickly, while Trump had also urged for a swift resolution to the ceasefire agreement.

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