Israel has launched the ultimate batch of Palestinian prisoners to be freed within the first part of the multistage ceasefire settlement with Hamas, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dispatched a crew of negotiators to Cairo for extra talks on the delicate truce.
The discharge of 641 prisoners on Thursday, together with greater than 450 who arrived within the besieged and bombarded Gaza Strip, happened following yet one more Israeli delay and after Hamas handed over the stays of 4 Israeli captives.
Launched Palestinian prisoner Mohammed Abu Amsha, who arrived in Gaza’s Khan Younis on Thursday, mentioned he confronted horrific situations whereas in detention and that he obtained just one meal every day, which was “very unhealthy”.
“They used to beat and humiliate us. Sick folks received no medical remedy. There have been quite a lot of pores and skin ailments in prisons and we didn’t get to alter the garments because the first day of our detention,” Abu Amsha advised Al Jazeera.
Within the first part of the ceasefire that took impact final month, Israel has launched greater than 2,000 prisoners and detainees in alternate for 25 residing captives and the stays of eight others who had been held in Gaza.
Israel’s relentless bombardment of the territory was paused and Israeli troops withdrew from some positions in Gaza, however Israeli forces have continued to violate the ceasefire, with troops killing 17 folks prior to now 48 hours, in response to Palestinian well being officers.
The humanitarian protocol of part one of many ceasefire has additionally not been carried out.
Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh, reporting from the Jordanian capital Amman, mentioned Israel “hasn’t allowed sufficient humanitarian help within the type of tents, cell houses, and the like”.
Israeli delegation to Cairo
The preliminary part is because of expire on Friday. Egypt mentioned discussions on the second part have begun within the capital Cairo.
Officers from Israel, key mediator Qatar, and the USA began “intensive discussions” on the ceasefire accord’s second part in Cairo, Egypt‘s state info service mentioned in a press release.
“The mediators are additionally discussing methods to boost the supply of humanitarian assist to the Gaza Strip, as a part of efforts to alleviate the struggling of the inhabitants and assist stability within the area,” it mentioned.
The second part additionally contains securing the discharge of the remaining captives and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Israeli authorities imagine fewer than half of the 59 captives nonetheless held in Gaza are alive.
Following the alternate on Thursday, Israel introduced it was sending a delegation to the Egyptian capital for talks with mediators.
Earlier on Thursday, Israel International Minister Gideon Saar advised reporters in Jerusalem the delegation would journey to Egypt to see whether or not there was frequent floor to barter an extension to the primary part of the truce.
“We mentioned we’re able to make the framework longer in return to launch extra hostages. Whether it is attainable, we’ll do this.”
Israel’s authorities is underneath public stress to increase the ceasefire and safe the discharge of the remaining captives, whereas some officers inside the far-right authorities wish to return to battle.
Hamas mentioned earlier on Thursday it was prepared to start talks on the second part and that the one method remaining captives in Gaza could be freed is thru dedication to the ceasefire.
Hours earlier than talks started, Israeli Vitality Minister Eli Cohen advised public broadcaster Kan that Israel demanded that the army keep within the Philadelphi Hall, which runs the size of Gaza’s southern border with Egypt.
Israeli troops are supposed to begin withdrawing from the Gaza-Egypt border space on Saturday, and full it inside eight days. There was no quick remark concerning the hall from Egypt, which is against any Israeli presence on the Gaza facet of its border.
Greater than 48,000 folks have been killed in Israel’s battle on Gaza since October 2023, in response to Palestinian well being officers. The battle has laid waste to the crowded coastal enclave and displaced the vast majority of its inhabitants a number of instances.
Israel launched its assault on Gaza following the Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed a minimum of 1,139 folks whereas roughly 250 others had been taken captive.
