Israel is demanding the surrender of six hostages on Saturday, February 22, in exchange for allowing humanitarian aid and container homes into Gaza. Under the current ceasefire agreement, the Tel Aviv administration is already obligated to allow the entry of humanitarian aid and container houses into Gaza, but Israel continues to restrict attempts to do so.
Israeli media suggested that the remaining six of the Israeli hostages who were scheduled to be released in the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement could be released in the seventh round of prisoner exchanges on February 22.
According to the Israeli state television Kan, progress has been made in negotiations on the release of all of the living Israeli hostages scheduled to be released in the first phase of the agreement.
The Israeli security cabinet was informed that progress had been made in negotiations on the release of all living Israeli hostages on Saturday in exchange for the release of all Palestinian prisoners and allowing the entry of some equipment into the Gaza Strip.
According to senior officials involved in the negotiations, in exchange for the release of the Israeli hostages, all Palestinian prisoners expected to be released in the first phase will be released, and Israel will allow the entry of humanitarian aid and other equipment into the Gaza Strip.
Officials said the negotiations had not yet concluded, but progress was being made.
Kan reported that Hamas had agreed to hand over the bodies of four or five Israeli hostages in Gaza on Thursday, February 20, after mediating countries stepped in.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel is using the container houses in Gaza, which it does not allow to enter Gaza contrary to its obligations under the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, as a bargaining chip.
During the negotiation process, Israel demanded the release of six live hostages instead of three in the seventh round of the prisoner exchange to be held on February 22 in exchange for allowing the entry of container houses into Gaza.
It was reported that Israel would allow hundreds of container houses to enter the Gaza Strip if six hostages were released.
According to the ceasefire agreement reached with Hamas and entered into force on January 19, the Israeli administration was supposed to allow 200,000 tents and 60,000 container houses to enter Gaza in the first phase.
However, Israel refuses to fulfill its obligations under the agreement.
Less than two weeks before the end of the first phase of the agreement, Israel has so far not allowed a single container house to enter Gaza.
In addition, only 73,000 of the promised 200,000 tents have been allowed to enter the territory.
