Hamas confirms commitment to implementing Gaza agreement, Israeli optimism about its continuation

Earlier, the Israeli Army Radio announced an agreement to allow the immediate entry of prefabricated houses and heavy engineering equipment into the Gaza Strip.

Channel 12 Israel quoted official Israeli sources as saying that it is committed to the agreement after receiving signals about Hamas's commitment to the deal.

Israeli denial

But a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that no mobile homes (caravans) or heavy equipment would be brought into the Gaza Strip, and that no goods would be allowed to enter through the Rafah crossing.

On the X platform, Omer Dostri wrote, “As we have made clear several times: neither caravans (mobile homes) nor heavy equipment will be brought into the Gaza Strip, and there is no coordination in this regard.”

He added, "According to the agreement, no goods will be allowed to enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing."

In Israel as well, resigned Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that instead of exploiting US President Donald Trump's statements to subdue Hamas, the Israeli government continued to submit to it.

Ben-Gvir added that this is a real test for Netanyahu and the Likud ministers, calling on them to immediately announce that Hamas must release "all the kidnapped (by Saturday) or bring hellfire to Gaza."

For his part, the head of the Internal Security Service (Shabak) Ronen Bar said that in addition to efforts to complete the release of batches of prisoners, the Israeli forces are "ready to deal with different scenarios."

Last Monday, the Al-Qassam Brigades announced the postponement of the release of Israeli prisoners until the occupation adheres to the humanitarian protocol according to the terms of the agreement, while Trump had threatened Hamas with "hell" if it did not release the Israeli prisoners by noon next Saturday.

On January 19, a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and a prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel went into effect. It includes three stages, each lasting 42 days. During the first, prisoners will be exchanged and humanitarian aid will be brought in, while negotiations will begin to start the second and third, with the mediation of Egypt and Qatar and the support of the United States.

Source: Al Jazeera + Agencies