Israel Agrees to Free 600 Palestinian Prisoners in Exchange Deal as Ceasefire Holds for Now

Israel and Hamas have reached a new prisoner exchange agreement, ensuring the release of 600 Palestinian detainees in return for the bodies of four Israeli hostages, according to an Israeli source. The deal signals that the fragile ceasefire remains intact—for now.

Key Details of the Prisoner Exchange

• The 600 Palestinian prisoners were originally set to be released last Saturday, but delays led Hamas to accuse Israel of violating the ceasefire.
• The exchange will include the final four hostages from the first phase of the truce agreement.
• Hamas warned that further ceasefire negotiations will not proceed until all detainees are freed as promised.

What This Means for the Ceasefire

• The exchange deal helps sustain the fragile truce, but ongoing tensions and delays continue to threaten further negotiations.
• Talks on a second phase of the ceasefire remain on hold until both sides fulfill their obligations.
• The situation remains highly volatile, with concerns that any further disputes could collapse peace efforts.

With the ceasefire hanging in the balance, all eyes are on whether both sides will uphold their commitments—and whether this deal can pave the way for lasting de-escalation.