Hamas says committed to ceasefire, Palestinian prisoners near freedom

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites + Al Mayadeen
19 Jan 2025 17:55

The Israeli occupation military receives the three Israeli female captives that Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades handed over to the ICRC in the center of Gaza City.

Members of Hamas' armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, take part in a military parade along a street in Deir el-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, on January 19, 2025 (AFP)

The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, stated Sunday that with the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, it reaffirms its commitment to upholding its terms, which it said is "the result of the resilience and patience of our great people and the legendary steadfastness of our valiant resistance against the Israeli machinery of terror and killing."

"Our heroic prisoners and detainees are on a path to freedom starting today, as we remain steadfast in our promise to them until they break the shackles of their captors and breathe freedom in the skies of Palestine," the statement added.

The Palestinian group affirmed that it is monitoring the delivery of aid and the relief of Gaza's residents with all necessary measures, emphasizing its commitment to making every effort to provide all required support and assistance to restore normal life in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas also announced that it is awaiting the delivery of a list from "Israel" shortly, which includes the names of 90 detainees, comprising women and children, expected to be released from Israeli prisons on Sunday as part of the first phase of the agreement's implementation.

The movement has fulfilled its commitments under the ceasefire agreement by providing mediators with a list of three Israeli female captives who will be released from Gaza on Sunday.

Later, the Israeli occupation military said it received the three Israeli female captives that Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades handed over to the ICRC in the center of Gaza City.

Earlier on Sunday, "Israel" and Qatar confirmed the commencement of the ceasefire in Gaza, following a delay of nearly three hours as "Israel" awaited a list of three captives, one of whom also holds American citizenship, to be released by Hamas.

The Israeli prison administration said that it will transfer the Palestinian prisoners and detainees to a gathering point at the Ofer detention center in the occupied West Bank, where their identities will be verified by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that a large number of families of the Palestinian prisoners and detainees scheduled for release have arrived at the vicinity of Ofer prison.

She clarified that prisoners from the occupied West Bank would be transferred to Beitunia, where they would be released, while prisoners from occupied al-Quds would be freed at the Russian Compound in the city.

As outlined in the ceasefire agreement, a total of 33 Israeli captives will be freed from Gaza during the first phase of a 42-day truce.

Hamas, in a separate statement, noted that the deal specified the "release of 30 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for each civilian detainee," adding that the 90 prisoners slated for release on Sunday would be selected from a list of 120 women and children.

The ceasefire agreement in Gaza came into effect on Sunday at 08:30 local time (06:30 UTC), reigniting hope for an end to the aggression and the genocidal war that "Israel" has waged on the Gaza Strip for the past 15 months. The war has resulted in tens of thousands of martyrs, wounded, missing, and detained, while millions of Palestinians have been displaced.

Shortly after the ceasefire took effect on Sunday, the Israeli occupation military began violating the agreement, killing and injuring several Palestinians.