Israel and Hamas Prepare for Next Round of Kidnaps and Prisoner Releases
Israelis and Palestinians on Friday eagerly awaited the next step in a 42-day Gaza ceasefire and a hostage exchange – which will take place the following day – as a deal between Israel and Hamas appeared to be stalled at first. a week.
Under the terms of the agreement, Hamas was expected to submit the names of the four kidnapped women for their release on Saturday. In response, Israel is expected to publish the names of more than 100 Palestinian prisoners it will release in exchange.
Analysts say that next weekend will be an important test for this agreement. The deal also stipulated that Israeli forces would have to withdraw partially from a wide swath of central Gaza to allow hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to begin returning to their homes in the devastated north.
Among the four women to be released, Hamas was expected to include at least some of the female Israeli soldiers it captured in its attack on October 7, 2023, which sparked the war. According to the cease-fire agreement, that would require Israel to release some Palestinians serving long sentences for murder, which has shocked Israel.
A 42-day ceasefire came into effect on Sunday, halting hostilities between Israel and Hamas. Hamas has agreed to release the remaining 33 hostages in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinians held by Israel and a partial Israeli withdrawal. During the temporary ceasefire, both sides agreed to discuss the terms of a long-term ceasefire.
Many on both sides saw the agreement as a bittersweet moment. The people of Gaza are thankful for freedom after 15 months of war that killed tens of thousands, as they feared for their future in the area, much of which is now in ruins.
Israelis had a moment of collective joy at the release of three female hostages: Romi Gonen, 24; Emily Damari, age 28; and Doron Steinbrecher, 31. But their joy was dampened by the sight of Hamas soldiers roaming the streets of Gaza in violent demonstrations, despite Israeli leaders’ vows to eradicate the group.
The war began after a Hamas-led offensive in southern Israel in which Israeli officials said they killed 1,200 and saw 250 captured. Israel’s subsequent military campaign against Hamas in Gaza killed at least 45,000 people, according to local health officials, whose figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
An estimated 94 hostages remain in Gaza, many of whom are presumed dead, according to Israeli authorities. They include Israeli soldiers, male citizens, women and Thai migrant workers.
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