Last week, we complained to Indy editors over an article written by their Middle East correspondent Bel Trew and Gaza reporter Nedal Hamdouna (“Palestinians in Rafah ‘awaiting execution’ as pressure grows on Israel to stop assault and agree ceasefire”, May 9).
The article included a serious omission in this sentence about the negotiations between Israel and Hamas to release some of the hostages who’ve been held in Gaza for the last 218 days:
“The proposal reportedly includes a first phase with a six-week ceasefire, an influx of aid to Gaza, the return of 33 Israeli hostages, alive or dead, and the release by Israel of 30 detained Palestinian children and women for each released Israeli hostage.”
We noted to editors that this omits the other relevant part of the proposal: that, in addition to the women and teens, dozens of Palestinian security prisoners (the overwhelming majority of whom are adult males) would also be released.
Editors agreed, and revised the passage to include more details on those Palestinian prisoners who would be released.
The proposal reportedly includes a first phase with a six-week ceasefire, an influx of aid to Gaza, the return of 33 Israeli hostages, alive or dead, and the release by Israel of 30 detained Palestinian children and women for each released Israeli hostage.
According to Al Jazeera, the ceasefire text that Hamas agreed to would then include the release of older, sick and wounded civilian hostages in exchange for elderly and sick Palestinian prisoners. Then each female Israeli soldier hostage would be released in exchange for 50 Palestinian prisoners, including those serving life sentences.
The following addendum was also added
