Biden: “Hostages Deserve to Be Reunited With Their Families.”

The Ministry of Justice has finalized the list of terrorists to be released as part of the deal | Hamas' overseas leadership has given conditional approval to the framework, but Israel awaits Mohammed Sinwar’s final response | Calls to the Prime Minister to avoid dangerous concessions.

Tel Aviv Today | Photo: Miriam Alster/FLASH90

Updated 23:24pm January 13, 2025

Against the backdrop of relentless efforts to free the hostages, the government is preparing this evening (Monday) for the possibility of approving the agreement as early as tomorrow. The Ministry of Justice has finalized the list of terrorists to be released as part of the deal.

US President Joe Biden stated on the matter: “We are on the verge of reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. I spoke with Netanyahu and with the Emir of Qatar. I will also speak with President Sisi. We are pushing hard to make this happen. The hostages are going through hell. They deserve to be reunited with their families. The residents of Gaza are suffering. They deserve peace.”

The Qatari Prime Minister and representatives of the mediators are awaiting Mohammed Sinwar’s final response, as he is expected to decide regarding the final draft of the agreement that has been passed to the parties. Hamas’ overseas leadership has given conditional approval to the framework, but Israel, experienced in such situations, remains cautious – three positive responses from Hamas’ overseas leadership have been given in the past but ultimately did not lead to an actual deal.

Cross-Border Efforts

Earlier today, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani spoke by phone with UN Secretary-General António Guterres about the latest developments in the ceasefire negotiations and discussed the possibility of easing the transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza without obstacles. Additionally, Egyptian sources claim that a tripartite meeting took place today between Israel, the US, and Egypt to discuss arrangements for the Israeli withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor. According to them, tomorrow, talks will take place in Cairo as part of the negotiations, aimed at “finalizing the remaining details of the deal.”

Stages of the Emerging Agreement:

1. First Phase: On the seventh day of the ceasefire, 33 hostages will be released within 42, alive and dead – including women, the elderly, and the ill. Among them are 11 Israeli men under the age of 50 in severe health conditions, including Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who have been held captive for many years. At this stage, the IDF will withdraw from most areas it currently controls in Gaza. For every female soldier, 50 Palestinian prisoners will be released, including 30 serving life sentences and 20 serving long sentences. For every Israeli woman or elderly person, 30 Palestinian prisoners from various categories, including minors, the ill, and women, will be released.

2. Second Phase: Beginning on the 16th day of the agreement, discussions will take place on a comprehensive deal for all the hostages: under which the remaining young men and soldiers will be released.

3. Third Phase: The parties will address long-term arrangements, including discussions about alternative governance for Gaza and plans for its reconstruction.

Netanyahu to Convene Consultation with Security Leaders
Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to convene a consultation this evening with senior security leaders. Additionally, in the past few hours, relevant government ministries have been instructed to prepare for the reception of the hostages expected to be released as part of the deal. Political sources suggest that if the agreement is approved, the hostages will arrive in Israel in the coming days.

Dizengoff Square | Photo: Miriam Alster/FLASH90

Call to the Prime Minister to Avoid Dangerous Concessions

Earlier today, the Prime Minister received a letter from ten coalition Knesset members, including members of Likud, Otzma Yehudit, and Religious Zionism, expressing concern regarding reports about the conditions of the emerging deal with Hamas. The letter emphasized the need to adhere to security principles, including the return of all the hostages and meeting the war’s objectives.

The letter, sent in cooperation with the Heroism Forum and the Hope Forum, called on the Prime Minister to avoid dangerous concessions. The Knesset members wrote: “Amid pressures from home and abroad, we reiterate our demand that under no circumstances should three moral red lines be crossed in any agreement with the murderous terrorist organization Hamas: No one can replace IDF soldiers, all hostages must be returned, and the enemy must not be allowed to return to northern Gaza.”

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