Egypt says Israel to free over 1,890 Palestinians in first phase of Gaza truce

Ahram Online , Saturday 18 Jan 2025

Egypt revealed that Israel will release over 1,890 Palestinian prisoners as part of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, scheduled to begin on Sunday at 08:30 local time.

Gaza
A boy runs with a Palestinian flag inscribed with the Arabic phrase "we sacrifice ourselves for the nation", past tents at a camp for people displaced by conflict in Bureij in the central Gaza Strip. AFP

 

In a statement issued by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Saturday, Cairo announced the success of its extensive diplomatic efforts, undertaken in collaboration with regional and international partners since the outbreak of the Gaza war on 7 October 2023.

The first phase of the agreement, spanning 42 days, will see Hamas release 33 Israeli detainees in exchange for Israel's release of over 1,890 Palestinian prisoners, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in its statement.

A joint operations center, based in Egypt, will oversee the exchange of detainees, the delivery of humanitarian aid, and the movement of individuals following the resumption of operations at the Rafah crossing, the statement said.

Mediators have committed to ensuring the implementation of the agreement across its three phases within the agreed timeline, bringing an end to the humanitarian catastrophe that has plagued Gaza's residents for more than a year.

Israel's genocidal war on Gaza has claimed the lives of at least 46,899, mostly women and children, with more than 110,000 injured.

The devastation has left the Palestinian territory in ruins.

Egypt expressed hope that the ceasefire would mark the beginning of a broader effort, calling for regional and international collaboration to ease the suffering of the Palestinian people.

It called on the international community, particularly the United States, to support and stabilize the agreement, establish a lasting ceasefire, and ensure the provision of humanitarian aid to Palestinians.

The statement also urged swift action on a comprehensive reconstruction plan for Gaza.

“Egypt emphasizes the importance of expediting a roadmap to rebuild trust between the parties, paving the way for a return to negotiations and taking the necessary steps to resolve the Palestinian issue within the framework of a two-state solution, in accordance with international resolutions.”

This framework should include the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, read the text.

Egypt reaffirmed its commitment to working with its partners, including Qatar and the United States, to ensure stabilization and complete implementation of the ceasefire agreement.

Cairo also thanked Qatar for its productive and ongoing cooperation in facilitating the agreement.

Additionally, it commended the pivotal role played by the new US administration under President Trump and the contributions of President Joe Biden in resolving the crisis.

The statement highlighted the Egyptian efforts since the onset of the crisis to contain its repercussions at all levels.

“A permanent crisis-monitoring committee was established, focusing on intensifying the delivery of aid to Gaza to alleviate the hardships of war.”

Egypt repeatedly opened the Rafah crossing on its side to allow the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid and the reception of wounded individuals till Israel invaded Rafah and seized the Palestinian side of the crossing border in May 2024.

Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said 50 fuel trucks are set to enter the Gaza Strip when the ceasefire starts on Sunday.

Abdelatty said Cairo provides for "the entry of 600 trucks per day to the Strip, including 50 trucks of fuel".

Hundreds of trucks have lined up on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing -- previously a vital entry point for aid that has been closed since May.

At a joint news conference on Saturday with his Nigerian counterpart, Abdelatty said "we hope that 300 trucks will go to the north of the Gaza Strip," where thousands are trapped in what aid agencies say are apocalyptic conditions.

Humanitarian workers have warned of the monumental challenges that could impede aid operations -- including the destruction of infrastructure that previously processed shipments.

By 1 December, nearly 69 percent of the Palestinian territory's buildings had been destroyed or damaged, according to the United Nations.

Nearly all of Gaza's 2.4 million people have been displaced at least once, with many of them hoping to return to the north, where Israel has been actively conducting ethnic cleansing if the truce holds.

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