Hostage Release
The foreign ministers voiced their full appreciation for Egypt’s wise and responsible leadership in facilitating negotiations that led to this historic agreement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Thursday.
Thousands of Israelis rallied across the country on Sunday, urging an end to the war in Gaza and pressing for a deal to free the remaining captives still held by Hamas.
“The Qataris and Egyptians, who have worked very hard to help bring Peace, will deliver this final proposal. I hope... that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social.
Senior Hamas official Abdul Rahman Shadid said in press remarks that these ongoing discussions include negotiations with the US envoy for captives, Adam Boehler.
An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that Netanyahu will hold a security consultation this evening.
On Saturday, Hamas will release six living Israeli captives, double the number initially agreed upon in the swap. Khalil Al-Hayya said Israel, in return, will release Palestinian prisoners on the same day.
Netanyahu’s office indicated that he ordered the postponement of the Palestinian prisoners' release scheduled for today “until the safe passage of our hostages can be guaranteed in future releases.”
The Hamas delegation, headed by the Head of Hamas Shura Council Mohamed Darwish, is set to meet with officials in Egypt, the movement said in a statement.
Tel Aviv was set to allow the return of internally displaced individuals to the north without inspection through Rashid Street today, which marks day 7 of the ceasefire.
Hamas confirmed, “The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) affirms that the second batch of the prisoner exchange will take place as scheduled on Saturday, January 25, 2025.”
These positive developments follow reports of indirect negotiations in Qatar, facilitated in conjunction with Egypt and the United States
