Biden: Releasing the hostages is just the beginning of the path to a two-state solution

The humanitarian truce held its first day in the Gaza Strip and proceeded smoothly and calmly after 48 days of continuous, non-stop bombing, killing and destruction.

While the Gazans breathed a sigh of relief, Hamas released 13 detained Israeli women and children, in addition to 10 Thais and a Filipino citizen, and handed them over to the Red Cross, which in turn handed them over to Egypt before Israel received them. In return, Tel Aviv released 39 women and children prisoners, but late on Friday, a deal that is the main clause in the truce.

Hamas committed to handing over Israeli women and children at 4 p.m. on Friday, at a time when Israel had gathered 39 Palestinian prisoners in Ofer Prison for their release, including 24 female prisoners from Damon Prison and 15 “prisoners” from Megiddo Prison. This is according to the exchange deal, which stipulates the release of 3 Palestinians for every Israeli.

In addition to the exchange deal with Israel, Hamas released 10 Thai citizens and a Filipino citizen, in a separate agreement that had nothing to do with Israel, and was sponsored by Qatar.

Fighters from Hamas and other factions took the Thai workers who were in the Gaza envelope area when the Hamas attack began on October 7 to the Gaza Strip without verifying their identities.

Although the 13 Israelis among them are dual citizens, the first batch did not include any American hostages, and other batches are expected to include them in the next three days.

According to the truce agreement, Hamas is supposed to release 50 Israeli women and children in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners within 4 days starting on Friday, every 13th day from Gaza, in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners. Then the truce can be extended if Hamas is able to hand over prisoners other than The agreed-upon prisoners, who are prisoners held by other factions and parties in Gaza, are given an additional truce day for every 10 new prisoners.

In the operation, which Israel called “Gates of Heaven,” 13 Israeli prisoners were received under a severe blackout, and they were transported in 4 helicopters to 4 hospitals for examinations, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Galant, and National Security Council Chairman Tzachi Hanegbi were following the operation. From the Ministry of Defense headquarters in Tel Aviv. It is expected that the Shin Bet will subject them to interrogation at a later time about the conditions of their detention.

Israeli sources said that after receiving their detainees on Friday, they were waiting for a list from Hamas of the names of those who would be released on Saturday. After Israel received its captives, the Palestinians were forced to wait several hours before their prisoners were released.

Israeli forces prevented Palestinians from gathering at nearby points near Ofer Prison near Ramallah, and fired bullets and gas bombs at them, wounding two boys. The exchange of prisoners is the basis of the current humanitarian truce, which also included the introduction of aid and fuel trucks, and the cessation of military operations and flights in the skies of Gaza.

Food and medical aid trucks, fuel, and cooking gas flowed into the southern Gaza Strip on Friday, and then into the northern Gaza Strip. Planes stopped flying in the southern Gaza Strip, and refrained from doing so for 6 hours in the northern Gaza Strip, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., according to the terms of the agreement. .

The occupation army had warned residents of the southern Gaza Strip and those displaced there from heading to the northern areas and Gaza City during the temporary humanitarian truce, as they are considered dangerous combat zones, and that the war has not ended. The Israeli army maintained its presence in large areas in the northern Gaza Strip, and withdrew from other areas, in a repositioning, after it intensified its bombing before the truce entered into force, and blew up tunnels under the “Al-Shifa” Medical Complex in Gaza City.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen confirmed that his government will resume its war against the Gaza Strip after the end of the truce, until the Hamas movement is liquidated and all Israeli prisoners are restored.

But the head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, pledged to break Israel. Haniyeh said: “The resistance was able to confront the occupation, break its will, and thwart its plans despite great pain,” adding in a recorded speech on Friday: “We will not leave our positions or abandon our responsibilities towards our people before, during and after the battle, and we affirm our adherence to the unity of the people, the land and destiny.” .