Netanyahu vows to pursue war with Hamas despite potential ceasefire
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced plans for a prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas in a recent press statement. Netanyahu made the announcement before a cabinet meeting to discuss the details of the agreement.
During the press statement, Netanyahu emphasized the ongoing conflict with Hamas, stating, “We will continue the war until all our goals are achieved. We will eliminate Hamas, bring back all those kidnapped, and ensure that there will be no threat to Israel left in Gaza.”
The prisoner exchange agreement is said to involve the release of Israeli women and children held in Gaza by Hamas in exchange for the release of Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons. Reports indicate that in the first phase of the agreement, between 50 and 80 Israeli women and children are expected to be released by Hamas, with Israel releasing at least 150 Palestinian detainees in return.
It is also reported that the exchange will take place during a 4-day ceasefire in Gaza, allowing approximately 300 trucks per day to enter the area as part of the agreement.
According to Israeli authorities, Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, currently holds 239 Israeli prisoners. Meanwhile, there are over 7,000 Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, with more than 2,000 of them being held as administrative detainees. Israeli forces have also detained approximately 3,000 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem since October 7.
The prisoner exchange agreement is a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, and it is expected to have far-reaching implications for both sides.
