Prisoner exchange, truce agreement delayed implementation to Friday

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 Nov 2023 07:35

The Israeli Security Advisor says that minor issues are being resolved, preventing the timely execution of the agreement.

Israeli [rotesters lift placards as they rally to demand the release of captives held by the Resistance in Gaza in November 2023 (AFP)

In a recent news report, it was stated that Israeli individuals who are to be released under a ceasefire agreement will not be freed before Friday.

The previously announced date for the temporary pause on Gaza has been delayed from Thursday to Friday "at least," Israeli Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi said on Wednesday evening.

In an interview with Channel 13, Hanegbi said that some last-minute technicalities disrupted the agreement's timeline, but added that they are minor issues that are being resolved.

This news comes amid severe uncertainty among the captives' families, who, as per Israeli media, were not notified of the changes and only found out through news outlets.

However, according to Channel 12, a critical factor in finalizing a prisoner exchange deal is the lack of agreement on the mechanics of the exchange, such as the permissible and prohibited actions during the truce.

Earlier this week, a 4-day truce deal was announced, entailing the release of 50 Israeli women and minors (under 19) held captive in Gaza, in exchange for the liberation of 150 Palestinian women and minors (under 19) imprisoned in Israeli prisons.

The agreement reached through Qatari and Egyptian mediation efforts was scheduled to go into effect on Thursday. However, Israeli media outlets reported on Wednesday evening that the deal was not finalized and is likely to start on Friday instead.

The limited truce remains under heavy criticism by international organizations, human rights activists, and several countries and officials calling for an immediate ceasefire rather than an insufficient truce. But these calls have been rejected by both the United States and the Israeli occupation entity, stressing that the aggression must continue until all "Tel Aviv's" objectives are fulfilled, something which military experts and diplomats expressed extreme doubts over.