Gaza City: Ninety Palestinian prisoners were released early on Monday, January 20th, as part of the first phase of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, according to the Israeli prison service.
This move follows the release of three Israeli hostages by Hamas to the Red Cross in Gaza City, which occurred hours after the ceasefire began. The hostages—Doron Steinbrecher, Emily Damari, and Romi Gonen—are in stable condition and receiving treatment in a Tel Aviv hospital.
Hamas has stated that for every Israeli hostage freed, 30 Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli jails. The majority of the prisoners freed in this phase are women and children, including prominent Palestinian politician Khalida Jarrar.
I welcome the start of the implementation of the ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza.
We stand ready to support this implementation & scale up the delivery of sustained humanitarian relief to the countless Palestinians who continue to suffer.
It is imperative that this…— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) January 19, 2025
As the ceasefire took effect, over 630 aid trucks entered Gaza on Sunday, addressing the humanitarian needs of the region.
However, the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs warned that while this moment is one of “tremendous hope – fragile, yet vital,” the complexities of the coming days and weeks will continue to pose significant challenges.
The WHO chief also cautioned that the scale of health needs in Gaza will present a complex task.
The Ceasefire deal
The ceasefire deal is being implemented in three stages: the first involves the release of hostages and prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated Gaza areas, and the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes.
The second phase, set to begin after 16 days, aims for a full Israeli troop withdrawal and the release of remaining hostages. The third stage will focus on recovering the bodies of any missing hostages and rebuilding Gaza, a process that could take years.
Uncertainty remains over the fate of some hostages, with many still unaccounted for.
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