Under the proposed deal, Israel has agreed to free 50 women and children who were kidnapped by Hamas gunmen in October during a four-day truce. However, the process, initially set to begin at 10 am, has been postponed until Friday due to disagreements on the sequence of releases between Israel and Hamas.
Concerns have also been raised about Red Cross access to the hostages before they are transferred to Egypt. A list of individuals to be freed has been exchanged by both sides, but details on when the ceasefire would take effect are expected to be announced by Qatar in coordination with Egypt and the U.S.
Israeli officials have decided not to inform the families in advance to spare them distress in case Hamas alters its decisions when the ceasefire begins.
Daniel Hagari, the IDF spokesperson, characterized the release of hostages, exchanged for 150 Palestinians, as a 'complicated and not closed process,' anticipating both moments of relief and pain in the coming days.
Qatar, mediating in the negotiations, is expected to make an announcement on the beginning of the truce in the coming hours. Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi emphasized that the release would adhere to the original agreement and commence no earlier than Friday.
White House spokesperson Adrienne Watson stated that the final logistical details for the release were being worked out, expressing hope that implementation would begin on Friday morning.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a televised news conference, pledged to 'rescue all hostages held by Hamas' and vowed to 'obliterate' the terrorist group. He also declared that after the four-day ceasefire, the war would resume until all of Israel's goals, including destroying Hamas' military capabilities and freeing all 240 hostages in Gaza, were achieved.
As per the terms of the ceasefire agreement, Hamas is set to release 50 women and children, out of the approximately 240 hostages in Gaza, over a four-day period. In return, Israel will release 150 Palestinians from its jails and allow 300 aid trucks into Gaza daily during the ceasefire.
The hostages to be freed are women and children, while the Palestinian prisoners include women and male detainees aged 18 and younger. There are at least 35 children among the hostages, with 18 of them aged 10 and under, along with over 50 women.
The exchange is planned in two phases, with the first involving the release of 50 hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners during the truce. If successful, a second phase could see the release of another 150 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 50 more hostages during an extended truce, according to the Israeli government.
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