13 people to be released Friday, Qatar says
Agencies – Sudan Events
Thirteen people held by Hamas will be released in the first phase of the agreement on Friday, said spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Majed Al Ansari, without offering any details of how many Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange or where the releases will take place
The deal was originally set to begin on Thursday, but it was delayed by last minute logistical issues, including the verification of the list of hostages set to be released tomorrow, the spokesman added.
During a news conference Thursday, Al Ansari said Israeli intelligence received the list of the first 13 hostages to be released by Hamas.
After that release is completed, Hamas will supply Qatar — which has acted as an intermediary in the deal negotiations — with another list of the next group to be released the following day
Al Ansari cautioned that while both parties reached an agreement and the pause is set to begin, the deal remains fragile. “These are not set in stone, they are not completely guaranteed, he said, but Qatar is “confident” in the deal and the “commitment to the success,” expressed by both parties.
