Deal reached on swap of hostages, prisoners

The deal for the release of four slain Israeli hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel raised hopes that the multiphase agreement could hold for further negotiations until at least the six-week deadline of the first phase.

Both sides confirmed the latest development through media reports on Wednesday. However, Israel warned that if no further hostages were released by March 8, the cease-fire could end, highlighting the fragility of the truce.

A Hamas leadership delegation concluded its visit to Cairo, where it met with Egyptian officials, Xinhua News Agency reported, citing a Hamas statement. Discussions were held on the implementation of the cease-fire agreement, the exchange of prisoners, and the prospects for the second phase of negotiations.

Israel was expected to release more than 600 Palestinian detainees on Saturday after Hamas freed six hostages earlier in the day.

But in a statement published on Sunday, the Israeli Prime Minister's office said that in light of Hamas' "repeated violations", including "the ceremonies that humiliate our hostages" and the "cynical exploitation of our hostages for propaganda purposes", it had been decided that the "release of terrorists" would be delayed "until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies".

Horrible tragedy

At a United Nations Security Council meeting on Wednesday, rescued Israeli hostage Noa Argamani appealed to the international community to put an end to "this terrible tragedy".

Without immediate action, Argamani said, many more innocent people will be killed, "including my partner Avinatan Or". Until Avinatan returns, she said, "My heart is in captivity."

Daniel Levy, a former Israeli peace negotiator and president of the policy institute US/Middle East Project, reiterated the importance of security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

"A minute of silence for each of the Bibas children (Israeli hostages) would be appropriate, as would a minute of silence for each of the more than 18,000 Palestinian children murdered in Israel's devastation of Gaza. That silence would extend to over 300 hours," said Levy.

He said the unlawful displacement of Palestinians must not be endorsed or encouraged by any state, including a UNSC member state.

"We know attempts have been made in the past to remove Palestinians. Neither people will be ethnically cleansed nor submitted to genocidal violence," said Levy.

Mustafa Yetim, an associate professor at the International Relations Department at Eskisehir Osmangazi University in Turkiye, told China Daily that the latest phase of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been marked by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's assertive policies, strongly backed by the US' aggressive and radical pro-Israel stance.

Yetim said Israel continued to pursue destabilizing and expansionist actions in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria, all aimed at weakening emerging regional dynamics and exacerbating divisions.

Moreover, he said, the US regional policy, narrowly focused on economic gains, has further amplified tensions.

"The already fragile negotiations between Israel and Hamas face significant challenges, and the risk of renewed conflict remains high," said Yetim.

Sami al-Arian, the director of the Center for Islam and Global Affairs at Istanbul Zaim University, said in an interview with Al Jazeera that throughout the first phase of the cease-fire deal, Netanyahu had been trying to find a justification to "resume his genocidal war".

But the Israeli leader has not been given the "green light" by the US, prompting him to go through with the rest of the deal, and allow the handover of 620 Palestinian prisoners.