Hamas group said on Tuesday it had reached an agreement with Israel on releasing Palestinian prisoners supposed to be freed on Saturday as a part of a ceasefire agreement.
In a statement, Hamas said its delegation, led by senior official Khalil al-Hayya, met with Egyptian officials to discuss the implementation of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement as well as preparations for the next phase of negotiations.
The group emphasized the need for full and precise adherence to all terms of the deal.
Hamas added that a solution has been reached ensuring that the release of Palestinian prisoners would occur simultaneously with the handover of Israeli remains, as previously agreed to under the first phase of the deal, along with additional Palestinian women and children detainees.
An Israeli official confirmed late Tuesday that an understanding had been reached with Hamas to resolve the delay in releasing Palestinian prisoners.
“The Egyptian mediation has succeeded…An agreement was reached to resolve the issue of the delayed release of Palestinian prisoners,” the unnamed official told Israel's Channel 13.
“If there are no last-minute changes, the remains of four Israeli hostages will be returned Wednesday night without a formal ceremony, and Palestinian prisoners will be released gradually from Israeli prisons,” the official added.
The first phase of the ceasefire deal in Gaza began on Jan. 19, spanning three stages, each lasting 42 days, with negotiations for the next phase required before the completion of the current one.
As part of this phase, which involves the release of 33 Israeli hostages—both living and deceased—Palestinian resistance factions have already freed 25 living captives and four deceased individuals in seven separate batches.
Israel has delayed the release of around 620 Palestinian prisoners, despite Hamas fulfilling its commitments under the agreement.
On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following a discussion with several ministers, decided against releasing the Palestinian prisoners, contradicting the recommendation of Israeli security officials.
Netanyahu's office claimed the decision was a response to Hamas violations, citing ceremonies held for six released prisoners last Saturday. Hamas dismissed the accusation as baseless, calling it a pretext to evade Israel’s commitments under the deal.
A ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement has been in place in Gaza since last month, pausing the Israeli war, which has killed nearly 48,350 people, mostly women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
France will finalise with other European Union countries a solution for providing financial support to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets, President ...
U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to end the war in Ukraine received support from the leaders of Britain, France, and Germany, who emphasized that...
Former President Jair Bolsonaro will begin a 27-year prison sentence for a coup plot against his successor, a decision made by Brazil's Supreme Court ...
The U.S.-imposed Thursday deadline on Ukraine’s peace plan is no longer Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, adding that “the de...
Galatasaray suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise in the fifth round of the UEFA Champions League....
The IDF confirmed on Tuesday that the remains of an Israeli hostage has been received by the International Committee of the Red Cross and is on its way to Gaza.
Israeli forces killed three Palestinians in Gaza on Monday near the line separating zones of Israeli control, exposing tensions in the ceasefire agreement signed on 9 October.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for Hamas to be expelled from the region on Tuesday. The coment on his X account comes a day after the United Nations Security Council endorsed U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the war that offers Hamas amnesty.
An Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese city of Sidon killed 13 people and wounded several others, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry on Tuesday (18 November).
The Hayli Gubbi volcano in north-eastern Ethiopia erupted on Sunday for the first time in over 12,000 years, before halting on Monday, according to the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Center.
U.S. President Donald Trump has told his advisers that he plans to speak directly with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro according to Axios, as Washington designated him as the head of a terrorist organisation on Monday. A claim Maduro denies.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has once again expressed strong support for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, condemning foreign interference and criticising U.S. actions in the region.
The United States is preparing to launch a new phase of Venezuela-related operations in the coming days, four U.S. officials told Reuters, as the Trump administration escalates pressure on President Nicolas Maduro.
Pakistan issued a strong rebuke after India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh suggested that Sindh, currently a province of Pakistan, could one day return to India. Singh framed the idea as part of a civilisational link, saying borders can change and past separations may not be permanent.
Georgia has formally invited Pope Leo XIV to visit Tbilisi in 2026, following Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s meeting with the Pontiff at the Vatican on Monday 24th November.
The IDF confirmed on Tuesday that the remains of an Israeli hostage has been received by the International Committee of the Red Cross and is on its way to Gaza.
A new platform uniting Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) from the Member Countries of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) was launched in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan, on Tuesday, with MP Azer Allahveranov elected as its chairman.
Türkiye is reaffirming its role as a diplomatic center in the Russia–Ukraine war, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan telling President Vladimir Putin that Ankara pushes for a just and lasting peace.
Israeli forces killed three Palestinians in Gaza on Monday near the line separating zones of Israeli control, exposing tensions in the ceasefire agreement signed on 9 October.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment