Hamas group has confirmed January 25 as the second phase of the Israel-Hamas captive exchange following the success of the first exchange. This is according to a press statement released by the group as seen by Business Day
“The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) confirms that the second batch of the prisoner exchange will take place on its scheduled date January 25, 2025,” it read.
The first phase of the ceasefire exchange which took place on Sunday, January 19 saw the release of those who had been taken hostages by both parties since the beginning of the 15-month-old war reunite with their families.
Hamas released three Israeli hostages and Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners on the first day of a ceasefire. The truce also allowed Palestinians to return to bombed-out neighborhoods to begin rebuilding their lives, while relief trucks delivered much-needed aid.
According to the timeline for the ceasefire reported by Business Day, on January 25 which is day seven, internally displaced Palestinians will be allowed to return to northern Gaza, which has been under a deadly military siege since October, without carrying arms and without inspection via al-Rashid Street.
Cars and any non-pedestrian traffic will be allowed to return north of the Netzarim Corridor, which divides Gaza between north and south, after vehicle inspection which will be performed by a private company to be decided by mediators in coordination with the Israeli side.
More than 47,000 Palestinians have since been killed in Israeli attacks, according to medical officials in Gaza. Nearly the entire 2.3 million population of Gaza is homeless. Around 400 Israeli soldiers have also died.
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