Barring last-minute delays and Hamas does not try to pluck its nerves further, today will be one of the most dramatic days in Israel's history – and it is expected to be the first of four.
At seven o'clock this morning, the ceasefire of the first day of the lull in the agreement with Hamas for the return of the hostages is expected to go into effect. At 13:<> P.M., the first <> abductees are supposed to return to Israel, accompanied by IDF soldiers.
Netanyahu against the background of the wall of pictures of the abductees, photo: Amos Ben-Gershom / GPO
Despite the fact that the headquarters of the abductees in the Prime Minister's Office has contacted the families who are expected to receive their loved ones tomorrow in accordance with the list submitted to Israel, as of this writing they have not published their intended returns.
How will a return be made? At one point on the border, Israel has set up a front-line emergency room where preliminary tests will be conducted. The return of the abductees is expected to be documented by GPO photographers who have been briefed to act with the necessary sensitivity. From the emergency room, the discharged soldiers will be transported by car or helicopter to two hospitals to meet with their families.
IDF Spokesperson
Two hospitals will be absorbed
Family members and those released will be given the option to remain in the hospital between hours and days, as long as they wish. Inside the hospital, assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs will be waiting together with the Ministry of Labor, including social workers. ISA personnel will also wait to interrogate the returnees in the most sensitive manner. In addition to treating the abductees at the hospital and meeting family members, the IDF will work together with the police to secure the area.
After that, the headquarters of the abductees in the Prime Minister's Office will allow families to choose where they want to go – home, hotel or anywhere else, where the accompaniment of government ministries and headquarters will continue over time. The released and their families are also supposed to receive an extensive assistance package from the National Insurance Institute and to be accompanied by the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Health for optimal absorption of returnees.
The release of the hostages, this is how it is supposed to happen, Photo: Israel Hayom
According to the plan, after today's phase, three more phases are expected, one daily. In total, at least 50 abductees are supposed to be released. Israel is supposed to receive the list of those slated for release the next day. For every ten additional abductees, Israel will extend the ceasefire for another day.
In the background of the preparations for the absorption of the abductees, the abductees' headquarters in the Prime Minister's Office, headed by Gal Hirsch, learned from White House officials about the absorption of the five women released since the outbreak of the war, as well as from past cases of taking in abductees.
"To eradicate the murderous movement"
In a meeting with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron in Israel yesterday, Netanyahu addressed the release of the hostages, saying: "We hope to get our hostages out, there are many challenges along the way. We hope to take out the first team, and then we are committed to taking them all out. We will continue with the goals of the war, which is to destroy Hamas, because Hamas has already promised that it will do the same thing again and again and again. This is a cult that advocates genocide. There is no hope for peace between Israel and the Palestinians and between Israel and the Arab states if we do not eradicate this murderous movement, which threatens the future of us all."
Biden and Netanyahu, Photo: Emil Salman/Haaretz
Last night, US President Joe Biden spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and asked that Israel act to calm the northern sector as well during the ceasefire. Netanyahu ended the conversation without giving a commitment on the issue, mainly because of the expectation of friction with civilians who wish to move back from south to north. On the previous day, due to the delay in implementing the agreement, the IDF organized to finish its missions in the Gaza Strip and position itself safely for the ceasefire. Behind the scenes, Mossad officials sought to clarify the various clauses in the agreement about which "disagreements" with Hamas arose on Wednesday night, including regarding where IDF forces would be during the truce.
Discussions on the various clauses began yesterday at 11 p.m. in Qatar, following which National Security Council head Tzachi Hanegbi announced the postponement of entry to the ceasefire. There is now growing certainty regarding Hamas' ability to enter into an agreement on time, but there is still concern at the military and political levels about additional fire by Hamas forces and terrorist organizations that ostensibly "will not be aware" of the ceasefire.
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Photo: Reuters
Israel says that in any case, the IDF is expected to respond to any violation of the agreement or in life-threatening cases. The most difficult task during the lull will be to prevent civilians from moving back north to the IDF's combat zones.
Minister Gideon Sa'ar, a member of the security cabinet, said last night: "The war will continue even after this deal is implemented. There is no intention of stopping the war before Hamas is toppled. There is no way to end the war when Hamas is in power and there is no way to end the war when Hamas has the ability to threaten Israel. This is a cabinet decision and we will insist on it."
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