Israel, Hamas reach deal to release hostages. The Palestinians will return to the Gaza Strip

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced on Sunday that an agreement had been reached with Hamas to release more hostages from Thursday, and allow Palestinians to return to the northern part of the Gaza Strip from Monday morning.
Qatar helped broker the deal, which is expected to defuse the first major ceasefire crisis between Hamas and Israel.
“After strong and decisive negotiations led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, Hamas has relented and will carry out another phase of the release of hostages next Thursday,” Netanyahu’s office said. “As part of this phase, Israeli citizen Arbel Yehud, soldier Agam Berger, and one hostage will be released.”
The statement also noted that three other hostages will be released on Saturday as part of the deal.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement for the release of some hostages and for the Palestinians to return to the northern part of the Gaza Strip. (Getty Images)
Israel has confirmed that Hamas has provided a list specifying the status of the hostages expected to be released in the first phase. Local media also reported that the list listed the number of hostages alive and dead, although names were not included.
Israeli officials say most of the 26 remaining hostages are alive, according to a list provided by Hamas.
Netanyahu’s office also said Israel would allow Palestinians to return to the northern part of the Gaza Strip from Monday morning under an agreement with Hamas.
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Hamas is believed to have held 26 hostages, as of Sunday. (Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/File Photo)
Netanyahu reiterated that Israel will not tolerate any violation of the agreement between the two sides, adding that he will continue to insist on the return of all hostages, dead or alive.
Similarly, the White House issued a statement on Sunday afternoon saying that the plan between Israel and Lebanon will be hired by the US and will continue to work until Feb. 18, 2025.
“The Government of Lebanon, the Government of Israel, and the Government of the United States will also begin negotiations for the return of Lebanese prisoners who were arrested after October 7, 2023,” the statement read.
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President Donald Trump shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate on July 26. (Amos Ben-Gershom (GPO) / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The agreement between Israel and Hamas comes after the former accused the group of changing the order of hostages it had planned to release. As a result, the Israeli army prevented thousands of Palestinians from returning to northern Gaza.
The Israeli army also announced on Friday that it will not withdraw from southern Lebanon as it needs to be suspended until the Lebanese government fully fulfills its mission. According to the agreement, both parties are expected to withdraw on Sunday.
“IDF soldiers operating in southern Lebanon fired to eliminate threats in several areas where suspects were identified approaching the army,” the IDF wrote in a statement on Sunday.
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President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago estate in July. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The clashes came after President Donald Trump called for Egypt and Jordan to accept refugees from Gaza to “clean up” the region.
“I would like Egypt to take people,” Trump said. “You’re talking about a million and a half people, and we just clean this whole thing up and say, ‘You know, it’s over.’
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Trump said he applauded Jordan for accepting Palestinian refugees but told the king: “I would like you to take more, because I look at the whole Gaza area right now, and it’s a mess. It’s a real mess. .”
Anders Hagstrom of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
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