Details of the Agreement Between Israel and Hamas for the Exchange of Israeli Hostages for Palestinian Prisoners

Qatar, the main mediator in the ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, states that both sides will begin a four-day ceasefire on Friday, December 3, during which the first group of Israeli hostages will be released later that day. According to this agreement, during this four-day pause, about 50 women and children under 19 years old held hostage by Hamas will be released in exchange for 150 women and Palestinian minors detained by Israel. Following Hamas's deadly terrorist attack on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of around 240 others, Israel entered into war against Hamas and initiated a ground invasion of Gaza aimed at destroying this Islamist group. Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by the European Union, the United States, and Israel. According to the report, Hamas is expected to release hostages in groups of 12 each day during this four-day pause, which both sides have termed 'humanitarian.' Israel announced that for every additional group of ten hostages released, the ceasefire will be extended by one day. Hamas stated that Israel has agreed to halt flights over northern Gaza from 10 AM to 4 PM GMT each day of this agreement, and all air traffic in the south will be stopped for the entire duration. Hamas also mentioned that Israel has agreed not to attack or arrest anyone in Gaza and that people can move freely along Salah al-Din Street, the main road many Palestinians have used to flee from north to south. Mohammed al-Khalifi, Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and chief negotiator in the ceasefire talks, stated that there will be no military attacks or movements during these four days. He expressed hope that this agreement would 'plant the seeds for a more comprehensive agreement and a permanent ceasefire.' Majid al-Ansari, spokesman for Qatar's Foreign Ministry, told reporters in Doha that there has been an agreement on the list of all civilians to be released from Gaza. He mentioned that Qatar hopes to negotiate the next agreement for the release of more hostages from Gaza by the fourth day of the ceasefire. Qatar stated that the International Committee of the Red Cross will work in Gaza to facilitate the release of hostages. The hostages are expected to be transferred through Egypt, the only country besides Israel that shares a border with Gaza. Additionally, during the ceasefire, trucks loaded with aid and fuel are expected to enter Gaza. The armed wing of Hamas announced on Thursday that 200 aid trucks and four fuel trucks will enter Gaza daily. Benjamin Netanyahu's office, the Prime Minister of Israel, announced on Thursday that Israel has received the initial list of hostages to be released from Gaza. An American official stated that among the 50 women and children under 19 being released by Hamas, there are three American citizens, including a girl who will turn four on Friday. In addition to the Israeli civilians and soldiers kidnapped on October 7, more than half of the nearly 240 hostages are foreign and dual citizens from about 40 countries, including the United States, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Chile, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, and Israel. Israel has provided a list of about 300 detained Palestinians who may be released. This number is double the number of women and minors that were initially agreed upon for release, and Israel stated that it expects more than 50 hostages to be freed under this agreement. According to Reuters, as of Wednesday, 7,200 Palestinians were in Israeli custody, including 88 women and 250 children aged 17 and under. Qatar plays the primary mediating role. Hamas has a political office in Doha, and the Qatari government has kept its communication channels open with Israel, even though this country has not normalized its relations with Israel like some other Gulf Arab states. The United States has also played a significant role, with President Joe Biden in constant contact with the Emir of Qatar and Netanyahu in the weeks leading up to the agreement. Egypt, the first Arab country to sign a peace agreement with Israel and a long-time mediator during decades of Israeli-Palestinian conflict, also participated in these negotiations. This agreement was announced 46 days after Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, which has been one of the most intense conflicts between the two sides. Hamas, backed financially and militarily by the Islamic Republic, targeted Israel with rocket attacks on October 7 and stormed southern Israeli areas, killing at least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 240 hostages, including children, women, and the elderly. The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries have listed Hamas as a terrorist organization. Initial negotiations for an agreement between Israel and Hamas began a few days after the October 7 attack, but progress was slow. American officials stated that this was partly due to the fact that communications between the parties involved had to be conducted through Doha or Cairo, and sufficient time had to be allocated for every detail, including compiling a complete list of the hostages taken by Hamas. According to Reuters, even with the agreement, the ceasefire is temporary. Hamas has stated that throughout this time, 'its fingers will remain on the trigger.' Israel has also stated that the war will continue until all hostages are released and Hamas is eradicated.