ALBAWABA - The Israeli National Security Council announced that the hostage swap deal with Hamas will not be starting before Friday. The council's president Tzachi Hanegbi said negotiations for the release of hostages have been "constantly progressing".
In a statement earlier today, Hanegbi said: "The release will start according to the original agreement between the parties and will not happen before this Friday,". Prior to the statement, news of delaying the deal roamed Israeli media.
Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN) said information was not provided to the families of Israeli prisoners before the announcement of a delay in the implementation of the agreement, Anadolu agency reported.
Palestinian and Israeli officials previously confirmed that the hostages swap deal will begin on November 23. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen previously stated on an Israeli Army Radio program that the first group of Israeli prisoners under the agreement would be released on Thursday.
Mousa Abu Marzouk, the head of Hamas' International Relations Office, had announced that the humanitarian pause agreement with Israel would begin at 10 a.m. on Nov. 23.
The deal includes a four-day pause in fighting and the entry of 300 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid including fuel into the Gaza Strip, in addition to the release of 50 Israelis held by Hamas in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
Al-Aqsa Flood operation against Israel
Hamas military group announced on Oct. 7 a military operation called "Al-Aqsa Flood" against Israel which is the biggest offensive in decades.
Palestinian fighters “infiltrated” Israel from the Gaza Strip and captured military bases and took hostages as photos and videos went viral online showing Hamas fighters on vehicles inside Israel and others paragliding into occupation territory.
In response, Israeli armed forces announced targeting Hamas positions inside the Gaza Strip. Thousands were killed, and dozens of thousands of others were injured in the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
As of the latest statistics by the media office in Gaza, has risen to 14,532, including over 6,000 children and 4,000 women. The office put the number of injuries at more than 35,000, saying more than 75% of them are children and women.
