2023 Israel–Hamas ceasefire

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The 2023 Israel–Hamas ceasefire is an ongoing ceasefire in the current war between Israel and Hamas. Both sides agreed to a four-day break in fighting, with the ceasefire subject to extension providing additional hostages are released.[1] The ceasefire mandates the release of 50 hostages held in Gaza in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, accused of offenses ranging from unlawful assembly to attempted murder.[2] During the ceasefire, the sides agreed upon entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave.[3] As of 25 November, Hamas had released 41 hostages and Israel had released 78 Palestinian prisoners as part of the agreement.[4]

Background

This section is an excerpt from 2023 Israel–Hamas war hostage crisis.[edit]
Posters in Tel Aviv calling for the return of Israeli hostages in Gaza

On 7 October 2023, as part of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood in Israel at the beginning of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, Palestinian militants (led by Hamas) abducted around 250 people to the Gaza Strip,[5][6][7][8][9] Of these, four were released and one rescued before the ceasefire that went into effect on 23 November.[10] The dead bodies of two of the hostages were discovered near Al-Shifa Hospital following the IDF takeover of the same in mid-November.[11] As of 25 November, an additional 41 hostages had been released by Hamas as part of the ceasefire deal.[12] The third exchange of captives occurred on 26 November. Hamas released 17 hostages abducted on 7 October, with a fourth group of captives expected to be released on 27 November.[13]

By October 2023, Israel held 5,200 Palestinians (including 170 juveniles) in its prisons. Hamas stated its objective was to secure their release.[14] The Hamas militants kidnapped 30 children,[15][16][17][18][19] elderly people,[20] and pregnant women.[21][22] In addition to full Israeli citizens, almost half of the hostages include dual citizens and foreign nationals.[23] The precise ratio of soldiers and civilians among the captives is unknown. The captives are likely being held in different locations in the Gaza Strip.[24]

Hamas has offered to release all hostages in exchange for Israel releasing all Palestinian prisoners,[25] a position supported by some Israeli families[26] but rejected by the Israeli military as "psychological terror".[27] Several countries have been involved in negotiations between Israel and Hamas, with Qatar taking the lead.[28]

On 22 November 2023, Israel and Hamas agreed to the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners and a four-day cease-fire in exchange for Hamas's release of approximately 50 of the hostages.[29][30][31] As of 26 November, Hamas had released a total of 58 hostages since the ceasefire went into effect, some of whom were foreign nationals and not included in the agreement to release 50 Israelis.[32][33]

Agreement

The ceasefire agreement was reached after intense negotiations, mediated by Qatar.[34] U.S. President Joe Biden was in close contact with the leaders of the countries involved to ensure the deal is carried through.[35] As part of the four-day ceasefire agreement, Hamas committed to the release of about 50 hostages—mostly civilian children and women—in exchange for Israel releasing 150 Palestinian prisoners and allowing humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, with the stipulation that the ceasefire would be extended another day for every 10 additional hostages released by Hamas.[36][37][38]

During the ceasefire, Hamas declared that the Red Cross is not allowed to visit the remaining hostages in Gaza.[39] This decision continued the prevention of Red Cross visits that started at the beginning of the hostage crisis, on 7 October 2023.[40]

Exchange of captives

The most important part of the ceasefire agreement concerned the exchange of hostages for prisoners:[38] Extensions of the ceasefire are contingent on hostages being released in small batches every 24 hours.[41][42]

On 24 November 2023, the Israeli government confirmed that 13 Israeli hostages were released.[43][44] Srettha Thavisin, the Prime Minister of Thailand, confirmed on social media that 12 Thai hostages were released from Gaza.[45] Later in the day it was reported that of the 24 hostages initially released on 24 November, the number included 13 Israeli citizens (of whom some were dual citizens), 10 Thai citizens and one Filipino citizen by the Qatar foreign ministry. Reportedly a number of Thai citizens were released outside of the truce agreement.[46] The hostages were all reported to be in good health.[47]

The hostages were exchanged for the release of 150 women and children from Israeli prisons.[48] Many Palestinian prisoners are held in Israel under administrative detention, arrested for crimes such as speech and nonviolent protest.[49] The released prisoners described a lack of clean water and food in Israeli prisons.[50] One released prisoner stated "We've been tortured."[51]

Incidents during ceasefire

Due to the continued focus of Israeli military many Palestinians had fled northern Gaza, with the Israel government issuing warnings against returning as well as dropping leaflets into southern Gaza warning against returning. However, many hundreds of Palestinians began to trek back north after the cease fire was announced on 24 November.[44] In the opening hours of the ceasefire, Al Jazeera English reported that the IDF opened fire on Palestinians returning to Gaza City.[52][53] Reportedly two were killed.[54][55]

Both sides have blamed each other for violating the cease fire agreement, shortly after it began. Israel has accused Hamas of launching rockets into Israel about 15 minutes after the start of the pause, and claimed that Israel had not retaliated. The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry said that two people were killed and about thirty injured after Israeli soldiers had opened fire on Palestinians in the early morning.[46] Sky News reported on 24 November that Israeli sniper fire injured members of a group of civilians trying to cross from the North to the South of Gaza on the first day of the ceasefire.[56][57]

Reactions

The Israeli Prime Ministers Office released a statement on the release of the first group of hostages on 24 November, stating that the government "embraces our citizens returning home" and that they were "committed to the return of all hostages and missing persons." Israel President Isaac Herzog, also commented on the release along with Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who all welcomed back the hostages and indicated their work would not be complete until every hostage had been released.[58]

Teddy bears with pictures of children kidnapped by Hamas.

From families of hostages

Gil Dickman, the cousin of a hostage named Carmel, told The Independent that "if this deal opens the door to the next deal," then more hostages will be released, adding "the problem is whether it’s going to fall apart in between the days."[59] Another hostages parent lamented over her jealousy that the families of those released hostages were able to hug and see their released loved ones.[44]

Palestinians

Palestinian residents had mixed reactions. Some told The New York Times that it was "a little bit of relief" while many feared it would not end the war. One view was that four days was not enough time to pull bodies from the rubble or search for missing people.[60] In the West Bank, thousands reportedly gathered around the Israeli military's Ofer Prison awaiting the release of the Palestinian prisoners, while waving Palestinian flags. Israeli police reportedly fired tear gas into the crowd in an effort to disperse it.[44] In the Qalandiya refugee camp in the West Bank, a Palestinian stated that while the cease fire is a good pause from the bombardment it is not a solution, calling the Israeli military actions a massacre.[46]

Bisan Owda, who had been documenting the conflict on social media, criticized the ceasefire as not guaranteeing the end of Israel's military operations in Gaza, "not enough to pull the dead bodies from under the rubble and bury them," and freelance journalist Hind Khoudary said the ceasefire was "meaningless" without being able to return to Gaza.[60]

International

The deal was welcomed by U.S. President Joe Biden[61] and by the United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia. The prime minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani expressed hope that the ceasefire would become permanent and the deal was applauded by Arab foreign ministers, who called for significant increase in aid to Gaza and an extended truce.[59] Politico reported that the Biden administration was concerned that a ceasefire would give journalists greater access to Gaza and allow them to report on IDF actions, turning public opinion against Israel.[62]

On 22 November, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed the four-day ceasefire and expressed hope that it would bolster efforts to achieve an "outright end to the current conflict."[63]

Joel Weiller, the Director General of Médecins du Monde, stated, "A four-day pause is a band-aid not healthcare. This is not humanitarian access, it's a joke."[64]

References

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