Israel Releases Final Prisoner Batch, Dispatches Delegation to Peace Talks in Egypt

Israel has completed the release of Palestinian prisoners stipulated in the first phase of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas, freeing the final batch of 641 prisoners, Al Jazeera reports.

The release, which included the return of the remains of four Israeli captives to Israel and the transfer of over 450 prisoners to the Gaza Strip, took place after delays and amidst ongoing tensions.

The completion of the exchange marks the end of the first phase of the truce, which saw Israel release over 2,000 prisoners and detainees in exchange for 25 living captives and the remains of eight others held in Gaza. While the agreement included a pause in Israel’s bombardment of Gaza and a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops, Palestinian health officials report that Israeli forces have continued to violate the ceasefire, killing 17 people in the past 48 hours. Concerns also remain about the implementation of the humanitarian protocols outlined in the first phase.

With the initial phase expiring on Friday, negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire have commenced in Cairo. Officials from Israel, key mediator Qatar, and the United States are participating in “intensive discussions,” according to Egypt’s state information service.

The second phase aims to secure the release of the remaining captives held in Gaza and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory. Israeli authorities believe that fewer than half of the 59 captives still held in Gaza are alive.

Following the prisoner exchange, Israel dispatched a delegation to Cairo for talks with mediators. Earlier on Thursday, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar indicated the delegation’s purpose was to determine whether there was “common ground” to extend the first phase of the truce.

The Israeli government faces mounting public pressure to extend the ceasefire and secure the release of all remaining captives. However, internal divisions persist, with some officials within the far-right government advocating for a return to war.

Hamas has stated its readiness to begin talks on the second phase, emphasizing that the release of the remaining captives will only be achieved through a sustained commitment to the ceasefire.

In a potentially contentious issue, Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen stated that Israel is demanding the military retain control of the Philadelphi Corridor, which runs along Gaza’s southern border with Egypt. Israeli troops are scheduled to begin withdrawing from the Gaza-Egypt border area on Saturday, with full withdrawal expected within eight days. There has been no official comment from Egypt, which has historically opposed any Israeli presence on the Gaza side of its border.

The war in Gaza, which began after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in the deaths of over 48,000 people, according to Palestinian health officials. The conflict has devastated the coastal enclave, displacing the majority of its population multiple times. The October 7th attack on Israel resulted in at least 1,139 deaths and the taking of approximately 250 captives.