The truce continues in Gaza with the release of Israeli hostages against those of Palestinian prisoners. While new exchanges are to take place this week, Israel announces the death of eight hostages to be released as part of the agreement.
Seven Israeli hostages have been freed by Hamas since the start of the truce in Gaza which began on January 19, but several more are still awaited. Israel has announced that the next releases of hostages, in exchange for those of Palestinian prisoners, must take place this Thursday, January 30 and this Saturday, February 1 with three hostages returned each time. 33 people kidnapped by the Islamist group must be released and returned to Israeli authorities in the first phase of the agreement which is to last until the end of February.
But if the exchanges between hostages and prisoners took place without incident and the ceasefire is mainly respected between the two belligerents, a first disappointment appears. Israel announced on Monday January 27 that eight of the hostages to be released during the first phase of the agreement had died. The government spokesperson indicated in a press briefing that “the families were informed of the situation of their loved ones” before the return of the remains. The Israeli army had anticipated the death of certain hostages, still promising to return the bodies to the families, but it had made a lower estimate of the number of deaths.
Although losses have been reported among the hostages more than a year after their kidnapping, the hostages returned alive appeared in good shape before their handover to the Red Cross and the Israeli authorities. Upon their release, the hostages are taken care of in a hospital to ensure their health. The four women released on January 25 are in “stable condition”, like the three released a week earlier.
On the Palestinian side, 200 prisoners were released by Israel on January 25 – 121 were sentenced to life imprisonment and 79 to long sentences. Most of them were transferred by bus to Ramallah, in the West Bank. 16 others were taken to the Gaza Strip, and 70 were deported to Egypt. After passing through this country, these former prisoners “will choose Algeria, Turkey or Tunisia”, declared Amin Choumane, head of the Palestinian High Committee for Monitoring the Affairs of Prisoners and Released Prisoners, in comments cited by The World. The truce agreement also provides for the return of Palestinians to the north of the Gaza Strip and these movements began this Monday, January 27 after the unblocking of negotiations.
The agreement in danger?
First addicts on the sidelines of the truce in Gaza. On Sunday January 26, Israel accused Hamas of two violations of the agreement: the Jewish state demanded the release on Saturday of Arbel Yehoud, a civilian, which did not happen, as well as a “status list” hostages to know if they are alive or dead, which has not been submitted. Seeing these conditions not met by Hamas, Israel maintained its troops in the Netzarim corridor and prevented the return of Gazans to the north of the enclave, in turn defying the terms of the agreement. The Jewish state has warned that it will maintain its positions as long as Hamas does not respect the conditions of the truce. In the wake of this threat, Hamas indicated that Arbel Yehud would be part of the next round of releases expected on January 30 or February 1, reports Release. In fact, the return of Gazans to the north of the enclave could take place on Monday January 27.
Latest updates
17:13 – The return of Palestinians to northern Gaza is a “victory” for Hamas
Hamas welcomes the return of the first displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, one of the conditions provided for in the agreement for the first phase of the truce. The Islamist group even speaks of a “victory” against Israel’s “occupation plans” of the territory. But the Jewish state responded and Defense Minister Israel Katz warned on X that the country was content to “strictly” apply the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. While the Israeli government has opposed the idea of a permanent truce, the minister’s statement can be seen as a warning of what could happen once the ceasefire ends.
16:31 – Six Israeli hostages released this week
Two waves of hostage releases are normally planned this week according to Israel with three people returned to the Israeli authorities each time: Thursday January 30 and Saturday February 1. Previous exchanges resulted in the release of seven women and at least two more women are expected to be released in the next wave based on the names revealed. Arbel Yehud, one of the last civilian women held hostage by Hamas, and Agam Berger, the last Israeli soldier held hostage, are expected. The name of the third person who will accompany them has not been revealed, nor those of the three other hostages expected at the end of the week.
16:12 – Israel announces the death of eight releasable hostages
Israel announced this Monday, January 27 that of the thirty hostages to be released during the first phase of the agreement with Hamas, eight people had died. A government spokesperson, David Mencer, assured during a press briefing that “families have been informed of the situation of their loved ones”. The Jewish state demanded from Hamas a list specifying for each hostage whether they are alive or dead, as provided for in the terms of the agreement, but it only received this list after complaining about non-compliance. of this condition by Hamas.
What this truce agreement contains
The truce between Israel and Hamas, the second since the attack of October 7, 2023, began on Sunday January 19, 2025 at 11:15 a.m. (10:15 a.m. French time), three hours late, Hamas recognizing a setback “for technical reasons on the ground.” In the process, the first hostages were released: three women – Romi Gonen, Emily Damari and Doron Steinbrecher – were exchanged for 90 Palestinian prisoners. On Saturday January 25, four other female hostages were released by Hamas: Karina Arif, Daniela Gilboa, Naama Levy and Liri Albag.
Israel and Hamas have agreed on the first phase of an agreement which would include three according to the Qatari Prime Minister who participated in the negotiations. This phase consists of the exchange of part of the hostages and prisoners at more or less regular intervals for six weeks. In total, this concerns 33 Israeli hostages and 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. The first part of the truce also provides for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from certain corridors and spaces to allow the return of Gazan civilians. “A delivery of humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip allowing the entry of essential equipment, particularly for displaced people who lost their homes following the war, as well as the rehabilitation of hospitals and health centers and others” are also on the program for this first phase.
Phases two and three remain unclear at this point. They “will be finalized during the implementation of the first phase”, indicated the Prime Minister. The truce is therefore an opportunity to continue negotiations between the two parties to the conflict, in particular those on new exchanges of hostages and prisoners. Hamas and Israel have finally agreed on the release of 296 Palestinian prisoners sentenced to life in the next phase, 236 of whom are to be deported, either to Qatar or Turkey.
Washington, Israel’s main ally, like the other members of the G7, encouraged the belligerents to go further and negotiate a lasting peace in a press release published in January: “We urge all parties to negotiate constructively subsequent phases of the agreement, to ensure its full implementation and the definitive end of hostilities.” But nothing guarantees the success of the next negotiations, any more than a definitive ceasefire. The Israeli government accepted this agreement allowing the release of the hostages, but indicated its desire to resume the fight until the extermination of Hamas.