@Arminius and @Magnus I get what you mean. I have been praying for a ceasefire for months. But I just can’t remove some of the scenes I have seen. Now that there’s a ceasefire, I’m breaking down. Instead of relief, there’s just rage.
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A lasting cease-fire is still far away and I won’t hold my breath. This is just lip-service from the concerned parties, and there is no genuine willingness for peace. There are still too many people around who have no interest in stopping the genocide.
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Is there a ceasefire or not???
It appears to have been approved on both sides, but it is not in effect yet. Takes effect Sunday.
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If it’s already agreed/approved, why do they need to keep killing on Saturday???
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So that both sides know they are serious about the terms is the usual logic.
Famously, an American soldier was killed in 1918 about 40 seconds before the Armistice.
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According to a copy of the agreement seen by the Guardian, nine ill and wounded Israelis will be released in exchange for 110 Palestinians serving life sentences in Israeli jails.
Does that mean the likes of Marwan Barghouti would finally be free???
At a guess, probably not in the first tranche. Someone like him will be in the last exchanges, not the first.
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Even if he was freed (unlikely) , he would be re-arrested at some future time , or worse.
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Yeah, he is bad news for Hamas, Abbas, or Netanyahu.
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I would not rule out a side deal that excludes from the list of released prisoners. Works for Hamas, allows Netanyahu to play to his base and his vulnerable right flank.
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So … It’s supposedly taking effect on Monday…
And it actually won’t.
Oh ye the eternal optimist.
What incentive is there for Israel to release him, if any ? What would they gain from it ? If nothing, that is the answer to your question. Israel did after all, not capitulate, so would be extremely odd if they release someone who can make long term political problems for them. If they did, it would be fishy or Hamas had achieved surprisingly good terms.
Remember, Israel is wary of the perception around this Cease Fire. If it looks too good for Hamas, they cannot say yes.
Who said anything about incentive? I’m only pointing to a certain clause in the deal.
Khalida Jarrar among 95 cleared for release
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Yes, but she is a low security prisoner. She keeps getting released. She was arrested again now under this war. It’s not the same category as Marwan Barghouti.
Thought it should be said that very many in the israeli security establishment has been in favour of releasing him (and other less extreme nationalists) for 20 years or so, but they think differently to the ones closest to power.
I think the main problem with Barghouti is that he is such a powerful symbol figure and it would give Hamas a significant political victory. I don’t understand why Israel would be willing to give Hamas such a victory myself, as doing so would help them gain both legitimacy as well as justify their war.
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My post about Khalida is unrelated to the previous post. I’m just happy that she will be released. Her daughter died from cancer and she wasn’t allowed to attend the funeral.
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For the reconstruction work, Israel has committed to allowing Egyptian-owned construction companies to enter the strip, along with the entry of engineering equipment, building materials, steel and other supplies.
Ah, there’s the reward for being their bitch 
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You can be sure that there would be a lot of silent israeli investors in that Egyptian companies as well.
Nothing generates money for companies than working in these projects.
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