Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
29 November 2023 | 16:25 CAT

A Palestinian prisoner reacts after being released from an Israeli jail in exchange for Israeli hostages released by Hamas from the Gaza Strip,, in the occupied West Bank on 28 November 2023. Israel’s prison authority said that 33 Palestinian prisoners had been released “during the night” under the terms of a truce deal that returned hostages from the Gaza Strip. Fadel Senna / AFP

Eleven more Israeli hostages have been freed from Gaza in return for dozens of Palestinians held in Israeli jails, as the two sides agreed to extend the existing ceasefire by two days.

Radio Islam International discussed the latest regarding the release of more Israeli hostages, Palestinians and the extension of the ceasefire with Sami Amin Al-Arian, a Kuwait-born political activist of Palestinian origin who was also a computer engineering professor at the University of Florida.

Al-Arian said there was an original agreement for the release of 50 captives over four days which was accomplished. In return, there will be 150 Palestinians, all of whom are women and children.

He added that there was a possibility for the extension if other captives were found, which seems to be the case. Therefore, the extension for 20 more captives in return for 60 Palestinians is to be released on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“There are negotiations going on now, mostly from the US, Qataris and Doha in which they are trying to arrange for the future exchange of prisoners. There are also talks on negotiation on atoning the women and children but also soldiers and men,” said Al-Arian.

There are approximately seven thousand Palestinian prisoners in Israeli hands. Five hundred fifty of them were held captive before October 7, and two thousand were arrested after, according to Al-Arian.

The truce agreed last week was the first halt in fighting in the seven weeks since the Hamas-Israel war.

Israel has bombarded the enclave and mounted a ground offensive in the north. More than 15,000 Palestinians have been killed.

According to Al-Arian, “This is a systematic plan on the part of the Israelis to level Gaza and make it uninhabitable and a wrecked city. Trying to enforce and get the Palestinians to leave and start a new Nakbah.” He added, “These Israelis are doing this with total impunity and do not feel like they will be accountable to anybody and think they can get away with it as they have been in the past.”

With all the devastation, carnage and mayhem, Al-Arian points out, “more of the Israeli bombardment will be seen once the humanitarian truce runs out as Israel’s intent on achieving is focused on forcing another Palestinian expulsion.”

Listen to the full interview on Your World Today with Mufti Yusuf Moosagie.