Hamas To Release Israeli Prisoners In Accordance With Ceasefire Agreement

Israelis released by Hamas in connection with the Gaza/DOC PHOTO ceasefire agreement via Instagram @stateofisrael

JAKARTA - The Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, on Thursday said it would release Israeli prisoners in accordance with a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

In a statement, the group said the move was taken after talks with Egyptian and Qatar mediators who pledged to work to remove obstacles and close gaps.

As reported by ANTARA from Anadolu, Thursday, February 13, the ceasefire agreement has been in effect in Gaza since January 19, stopping an Israeli war that has killed more than 48,200 people, mostly women and children, and devastated the Palestinian enclave.

Earlier on Monday (11/2), Abu Ubaida, spokesman for the Hamas military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigade, announced that the release of Israeli prisoners scheduled for Saturday (15/2) was indefinitely postponed due to violations of the ceasefire by Israel.

The three-stage ceasefire deal has been ongoing in Gaza since January 19, stopping an Israeli war that has killed more than 48,200 people and destroyed the region.

In the first phase of the ceasefire which lasted until early March, 33 Israeli prisoners will be released in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners. The sixth Israeli-Hamas prisoner exchange is scheduled to take place this week.

In November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu and former defense chief Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel is also facing genocide lawsuits at the International Court (ICJ) over its war in the region.