In a significant development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced a new agreement with Hamas on Sunday. The deal facilitates the release of additional hostages starting Thursday and permits Palestinians to return to northern Gaza beginning Monday. Qatar played a key role in mediating this agreement, which aims to mitigate the first major challenge to the delicate ceasefire established between Hamas and Israel.
Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Hamas agreed to an additional phase of hostage releases after what it described as "firm and determined negotiations." This phase will see the release of Israeli citizen Arbel Yehud, soldier Agam Berger, and another hostage on Thursday, followed by three more on Saturday. Israel also received a list from Hamas detailing the condition of the hostages, reportedly indicating the number of living and deceased, although names were not disclosed. Israeli officials believe that the majority of the remaining 26 hostages are alive, aligning with the information provided by Hamas.
As part of the agreement, Israel will allow Palestinians to return to the northern Gaza Strip starting Monday. Netanyahu stressed Israel's zero-tolerance policy towards any breach of the agreement and his commitment to securing the return of all hostages, whether alive or deceased.
The White House released a statement Sunday afternoon confirming the agreement and stating that the U.S. will monitor its implementation until February 18, 2025. The statement also mentioned upcoming negotiations between the governments of Lebanon, Israel, and the United States concerning the return of Lebanese prisoners captured after October 7, 2023.
This agreement follows a period of tension where Israel accused Hamas of altering the planned order of hostage releases, leading Israeli forces to prevent thousands of Palestinians from returning to northern Gaza. Israel also declared on Friday that its withdrawal from southern Lebanon, a condition of the ceasefire, would be delayed until the Lebanese government fully met its obligations under the agreement. Both sides were originally expected to withdraw by Sunday. The IDF reported using warning shots earlier Sunday to address perceived threats from individuals approaching their troops in southern Lebanon.
These developments coincide with former President Donald Trump’s call for Egypt and Jordan to absorb refugees from Gaza, suggesting a “clean out” of the region. He expressed his appreciation for Jordan’s acceptance of Palestinian refugees but encouraged them to take more, citing the current state of the Gaza Strip as a “mess.”
