Gaza Prisoner Exchange Deal Expected to Resume on February 21 Amidst Tensions

A prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, is expected to resume on February 21, following a pause. The agreement includes a ceasefire and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Israeli hostages. According to Palestinian organizations concerned with prisoner affairs, at least 62 Palestinians have died in Israeli prisons since the start of the Israeli offensive, including 40 from Gaza. The prisoner affairs organizations have reported that Ali Aashour Ali Al-Batsh from Gaza died in an Israeli prison. They noted that the number of Palestinian prisoners who have died in Israeli prisons since 1967 has risen to 299. The organizations also stated that the current number of martyrs in prisons is the highest in the history of the prisoner movement since 1967. Following the end of the first phase of the ceasefire, Israel closed all crossings to Gaza, preventing the entry of humanitarian aid, aiming to tighten the siege on Hamas to force it to comply with its obligations. Israel also threatens further military operations, raising fears of a resumption of the collective offensive.