20.01.2025 18:21
A ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement has come into effect in Gaza, mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. As part of the agreement, Israeli hostages are being released; however, Israel's Chief of Staff, Herzi Halevi, stated that they will increase attacks in the West Bank.
A ceasefire agreement, including a prisoner exchange, has come into effect in Gaza under the mediation of the USA, Qatar, and Egypt. As part of the agreement, Israeli hostages were released, while the Israeli government freed 90 Palestinian children and women prisoners from the Ofer Military Prison located in the occupied West Bank.
ISRAEL ESCALATES TENSION
Statements increasing tension from the Israeli front continue to emerge. Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi indicated that they would intensify their attacks on the occupied West Bank.
According to a written statement from the army, Halevi held a "situation assessment" with senior military officials. In the meeting, Halevi stated that the Israeli army should be prepared for significant operations in the coming days to "capture individuals who could carry out possible attacks" in the West Bank.
Halevi also instructed senior military officials to prepare plans for resuming attacks in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.
ATTACK ON THE HOME OF A PALESTINIAN PRISONER
Meanwhile, the Prisoners Media Office affiliated with Hamas announced that Israeli forces attacked the home of a Palestinian prisoner expected to be released under the prisoner exchange agreement in East Jerusalem and prevented journalists from filming in the area.
The Prisoners Media Office stated on its Telegram account that clashes broke out around the home of Jerusalemite prisoner Qasim Jaafira, and Israeli forces blocked journalists from entering the area.
The Prisoners Media Office also noted that Israeli forces attempted to raid the Jaafira family's home and threw sound bombs.
ISRAELI POLITICS IN TURMOIL
The prisoner exchange agreement has also sparked debates in Israeli politics. Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir resigned from his position due to his opposition to the prisoner exchange and ceasefire, while far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that he would remain in the coalition government led by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu by giving a conditional "green light" to the agreement.
Far-right Minister Smotrich stated that they would only support the first phase of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that came into effect yesterday in Gaza, threatening to bring down the government if attacks on Gaza do not resume.
CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT IN GAZA
Qatar, one of the mediating countries, announced on January 15 that an agreement had been reached between Israel and Hamas regarding a ceasefire and prisoner exchange in Gaza.
The agreement came into effect on Sunday, January 19, at 12:15 PM Turkish time. In the first 42 days of the three-phase ceasefire agreement, 33 Israeli prisoners will be released.
The military wing of Hamas, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, delivered three Israeli female prisoners to a Red Cross team yesterday as part of the first phase of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement reached with Israel.