The agreement to exchange Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners may enter a second phase, in which 50 hostages and 150 other detainees could be released. The Israeli government has announced this. The lull in fighting, which is part of the agreement, could last up to 10 days as long as Hamas releases at least 10 hostages each day.

Israel distinguishes two phases of exchange. In the first phase, which will last four days, 150 Palestinian prisoners will be freed and exchanged for 50 Israeli hostages. Meanwhile, there has been a lull in fighting in the Gaza Strip. Only living hostages with Israeli passports or hostages living in Israel are eligible for exchange. Other countries must negotiate with Hamas itself regarding hostages of nationalities other than Israel.

If the first phase is successful, a second phase may follow, he reported The Age of Israel. This should follow a similar pattern: Israel has said it is willing to release another 150 Palestinian prisoners if at least ten hostages are released each day, bringing the total to fifty hostages.

In total, the lull in fighting could last a maximum of ten days, during which time up to 100 Israeli hostages and 300 Palestinian prisoners could be released. Israel’s cabinet decides which prisoners are eligible for exchange and when exactly they will be released.

After a lull in fighting, which could last up to ten days in both phases, fighting in the Gaza Strip will resume, the Israeli government said. Israel wants to “destroy the military and organizational capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad” to “create conditions for the return of all hostages.”

Daan de Vries