Israel-Hamas war: Hamas agrees to release Israeli hostages after Trump’s warning but Israel is worried because of…

According to analysts, the first phase of the agreement will focus on the release of hostages while second phase is expected to work on reaching a peace deal and ending the Israel-Hamas war. 

Israel-Hamas war: The Israel-Hamas war is on the cusp of a major twist as Palestinian armed group Hamas has agreed to release 33 Israeli hostages as part of an Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement brokered by Qatar. Notably, Hamas’ announcement came amidst a warning by US President-elect Donald Trump’s threat that “all hell would break loose” in the Middle East if the militant group does not release hostages.

According to Israeli news agency, Tazpit Press Service (TPS), the talks in Qatar aimed at working out a ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas are progressing, with sources saying the deal has a “high likelihood of success” of coming to fruition.

Following the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, Israel had claimed that Hamas took 94 Israelis as hostages, 34 of whom have reportedly died since. Citing an Arab source, the TPS report said that talks in Qatar are focused on the release of Palestinian prisoners, with Israel seeking to have those serving life sentences deported to countries such as Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt.

Hamas has agreed to release 33 Israeli hostages in the first phase of the agreement, and those released will be humanitarian cases — women, children, elderly and sick.

Israeli lawmakers divided on ceasefire deal

However, members of Israel’s Knesset are reportedly divided over the emerging ceasefire and hostage agreement with Hamas, with supporters of the deal insisting it was necessary to bring the captives home as soon as possible, while critics claiming that the deal could threaten Israel’s security.

As per the emerging ceasefire agreement, Palestinians from northern Gaza who fled to southern areas of the Strip will be allowed to return to their homes, but Israeli forces will not withdraw from Gaza Strip until all the hostages are freed.

Opponents of the agreement oppose any deal that does ensure the release of all hostages at once. “All our hostages must be returned in one operation,” The Press Service of Israel quoted Likud MK Tali Gottlieb as saying.

“I’m not debating the cost, and as long as Herzi Halevi remains Chief of Staff [of the Israel Defence Forces], he won’t allow Hamas to be defeated. Instead, he continues with raids rather than conquest and control of enemy territory,” she added. “So, it has to be all or nothing. No phased releases, no steps. Either everyone returns, or no one does. Hamas can wait for Trump’s presidency, when we will impose such a heavy siege on them that they will beg to return our hostages.”

Opposition Whip MK Merav Ben Ari of Yesh Atid supported the agreement. “The State of Israel must bring all the hostages home, whether for rehabilitation or burial in Israel. The hostages don’t have time. Every day is critical. We must bring them back and end the war in Gaza,” she said.

Trump says deal would be finalised before January 20

Meanwhile, incoming US President Donald Trump on Monday expressed confidence that a ceasefire deal would be finalised between Israel and Hamas before he assumes office on January 20, ending the 15-month Israel-Hamas war that has left over 45,000 Palestinians, at least half of them women and children, dead since Israel launched its ground offensive in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

“We are very close to it (the ceasefire deal). They will get it done. I think the talks are in their final stages. It will probably happen by the end of the week,” Trump said.

Outgoing US President Joe Biden he spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the ongoing negotiations in Doha for a ceasefire and hostage release deal.  “My Administration is working hard to try and reach a deal to bring hostages home, end this war, and bring immediate relief to Palestinians in Gaza,” Biden wrote on X.

Second phase to focus on ending Israel-Hamas war

According to analysts, the first phase of the agreement will focus on the release of hostages while second phase is expected to work on reaching a peace deal and ending the Israel-Hamas war.

Additionally, discussions are also ongoing over the buffer zone inside Gaza, with Hamas wanting a pre-October 7 arrangement where the zone was 300-500 meters from the border, while Israel demands a buffer zone of up to 2000 meters.