Palestine, US welcome Israel-Hamas humanitarian truce deal Which will initially release 350 hostages

The Palestinian authorities have welcomed the agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.

The announcement came from the secretary of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Minister of Civil Affairs of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Hussein al-Sheikh made a corresponding statement, according to TASS.

"President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian leadership welcome the humanitarian truce agreement and highly appreciate the efforts that Qatar and Egypt have made to achieve it," al-Sheikh wrote.

“We once again call for an end to Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people and for the importation of humanitarian aid. It is necessary to implement a political solution to the problem that would be based on international law and would lead to the end of the Israeli occupation and to the acquisition of freedom, independence and sovereignty by the Palestinian people,"

Meanwhile, the Israeli Ministry of Justice has published a list of 300 Palestinians who could be exchanged for Hamas hostages as part of the deal. Of them, 287 are boys aged under 18. The remaining 13 are adult women.

The list was published on the website of the Ministry of Justice. This gives the public the opportunity to appeal the release of specific people.

According to The Times of Israel, most of the youths offered for release were detained for rioting and throwing stones in the West Bank or East Jerusalem. The women were convicted of attempted terrorism.

Moreover, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said in a statement that the United States welcomes the deal to release 50 hostages, including American citizens, held by Hamas since its October 7 attack on Israel. 

“I cannot imagine the ordeal that each of these individuals has endured over the past few weeks, and I am thankful that they will be reunited with their loved ones soon. Today’s outcome is the result of tireless diplomacy and relentless effort across the Department and broader United States government.  I appreciate the leadership and ongoing partnership of Egypt and Qatar in this work,” Blinken said. 

“I also thank the government of Israel for supporting a humanitarian pause that will facilitate the transfer of hostages to safety and allow additional humanitarian assistance to reach Palestinian civilians in Gaza.”

“While this deal marks significant progress, we will not rest as long as Hamas continues to hold hostages in Gaza. My highest priority is the safety and security of Americans overseas, and we will continue our efforts to secure the release of every hostage and their swift reunification with their families,” he added.

In addition, Jordanian authorities have decided to send additional military units to the border area with Israel to prevent Palestinians from Judea and Samaria from fleeing to the kingdom if they are forced to leave their homes as a result of the escalation of hostilities.

“We will take all possible measures to prevent Israel from implementing a transfer policy aimed at mass expulsion of Palestinians from the West Bank,” Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh said.

“Creating conditions for the expulsion of the population will be perceived by Jordan as a break in the peace agreement and as a declaration of war. Eliminating the Palestinian cause would be a blow to Jordan,” he said.

Jordan became the second Arab country to make peace with Israel. The states maintain close defence cooperation, but King Abdullah II is one of the most vocal critics of Israeli policies towards the Palestinians.

As reported further, Hamas will also release 12 hostages a day as part of the deal.

"Every evening, Israel will receive a list of hostages who will be released the next day, while it is expected that approximately 12 abductees will be released daily during the first days of the ceasefire," the statement said.

The militants will transfer women and children to the Red Cross, and then to the Israeli military.