No hostages will be released before this Friday (24), according to Israel’s National Security Council. The start of a temporary truce in the fighting has also been postponed until Friday, an Israeli official told reporters. CNN.
“Negotiations for the release of our hostages are progressing and ongoing. The release process will begin in accordance with the original agreement between both sides, and no earlier than Friday,” the council said in a statement.
Previously, the expectation was that the first hostages would be released this Thursday (23). No reason was given for the “postponement”.
Furthermore, the United States government announced that it will monitor compliance with the agreement made between Israel and Hamas, said US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Wednesday (22).
“No one is doing celebratory dances here. Now is the time for everyone to take a closer look. Because this will now come down to implementation and execution [do acordo],” Kirby mused in a virtual briefing for the American Jewish community.
Kirby also stressed that the American government will be watching “very closely” to ensure that Hamas lives up to its side of the hostage agreement.
Agreement between Israel and Hamas
Israel and Hamas agreed, on Tuesday (21), to a four-day humanitarian pause to allow the release of at least 50 hostages, women and children, detained in Gaza.
The resolution also involves the release of 150 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. The vast majority of prisoners listed as eligible for release are adolescent males between the ages of 16 and 18 — these people are children as defined by the United Nations.
Some of those listed are 14 years old, and around 33 are women who can also be released, according to the investigation. CNN.
Families ask for release
The Forum for Hostages and Missing Families, which represents families of those detained by Hamas, celebrated the agreement to release some of those captured by Hamas, but called on authorities to continue efforts to free those who remain in captivity.
“We welcome all hostages to return home, but our demand remains unchanged: the immediate release of all 236 hostages. Ensuring the safe release of all hostages is a national priority. There will be no victory until all the hostages return home”, highlighted the organization in a statement this Wednesday (22).
The forum also demanded that the terms of the agreement guarantee the safety and well-being of the remaining hostages, including visits from the Red Cross.
“We ask leaders to make every effort to fulfill ‘their moral burden’, with people’s lives at stake. We are grateful for the president’s support [dos EUA] Joe Biden to this agreement and for his unwavering call for the release of all hostages,” the statement said.
*with information from Samantha Waldenberg, from CNN
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
