At least 50 hostages, women and children, must be released during a four-day “lull in fighting”, the Israeli government said overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday.
A glimmer of hope, more than six weeks after the October 7 attacks in Israel and the start of the war between the Jewish state and Hamas. An agreement for the release of more than 50 hostages was reached on Wednesday, November 22, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel and a four-day pause in hostilities in the Gaza Strip.
In a statement, the Israeli government said it had “approved the outline of the first stage of an agreement under which at least 50 abductees – women and children – will be released for four days, during which there will be a lull in the fighting”.
Shortly after, the Qatari authorities, at the heart of the negotiations, confirmed an agreement for a “humanitarian break” in the Gaza Strip. “The start of this break will be announced in the next twenty-four hours”specified the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the social network X (formerly Twitter).
The announcement was greeted around the world and marks a turning point in the conflict. But this agreement remains fragile.
Because the fighting will resume after the truce
After this “lull”, “The Israeli government, Israeli army and security forces will continue the war to return all abductees, eliminate Hamas and ensure that there is no further threat to the State of Israel from Gaza”underlined the Israeli government after its vote in favor of the agreement.
The members of the Israeli war cabinet, set up in the wake of the October 7 attacks, also insisted on this point. Starting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “We are at war and we will continue it until we achieve all of our goals: the elimination of Hamas, the return of all our hostages and missing persons and the assurance that nothing in Gaza will threaten Israel.”
“In a war there are stages, just as there are stages in the release of hostages”, continued the head of the Israeli government. Comments supported by the declarations of Yoav Gallant, his Minister of Defense. Tuesday, the latter assured that he wanted a recovery “at full force” operations in Gaza after the truce, in order to “to do” Hamas and “create the conditions necessary to bring home other hostages”.
“Without this continuous pressure [sur le Hamas]there will be no chance” to ensure the release of the other hostages, defended one of the main leaders of Israeli operations in the Palestinian enclave. Benny Gantz, another member of the war cabinet, added that the agreement was “the basis for continuing the necessary operational efforts [à Gaza]“reports the newspaper Times of Israel.
Hamas also intends to continue hostilities after this break. “We confirm that our hands will remain on the trigger and that our triumphant battalions will remain on the lookout”warned the organization behind the October 7 terrorist attacks.
Because the government appears divided on the issue
During the meeting of the Israeli government, on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, the army but also the Shin Bet and the Mossad, the two Israeli intelligence agencies, supported the draft agreement. It was finally approved by 35 votes to 3, but it was the subject of various criticisms within the government. As pointed out by Jerusalem Postthose who oppose it fear that it will complicate the Israeli operation in Gaza, in addition to reducing the possibilities of future hostage releases.
The National Religious Party, a far-right movement, initially opposed the project. The movement of Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich explained that such an agreement would be “bad for the security of Israel, for the hostages and the soldiers of the Israeli Defense Forces”reports Times of Israel. In his eyes, Israel should continue to apply pressure until all the hostages were released.
Hamas could also, according to the party, take advantage of this temporary pause to remobilize its forces and resources or attack Israeli soldiers. Ultimately, Bezalel Smitrich’s party lined up behind the majority in favor of the agreement. “We were all convinced that the return of the hostages would advance the objectives of the war and that the government, the cabinet and the entire security system are fully committed to the continuation of the war, until the destruction of the Hamas”, said the Minister of Finance.
Another far-right party, Otzma Yehudit, however, remained opposed to the agreement. The three ministers who belong to the movement voted against. “Hamas wanted this truce more than anything else”criticized Itamar Ben Gvir, the Minister of National Security, on. A deal “who leaves some of the children and women [retenus] in Gaza is not moral in my eyes. (…) It could and should have been otherwise”he estimated.
Finally, dissensions appeared within Likud, the party of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. All his ministers voted in favor of the deal, but party and parliament member Tally Gotliv described the move as “a national shame, a humiliation”.
Because legal action is being considered in Israel
After the vote on this agreement, Israeli citizens have one day to appeal to the Supreme Court, reports the daily Haaretz. An association of victims of terrorism, Almagor, has already indicated that it will file a request to oppose the implementation of the agreement.
The organization demanded access to all of Israel’s commitments to Hamas, particularly regarding pauses in fighting. She also wishes to obtain information on “the delivery of fuel and other supplies that could help Hamas carry out terrorist operations against residents of Israel”.
The Supreme Court nevertheless risks rejecting these requests, as it has done in the past, underlines Times of Israel.