GAZA STRIP, KHAN YOUNIS (AP) — On the second day of a much-needed cease-fire after seven weeks of war, Hamas was making arrangements to release over a dozen hostages. They will be exchanged for several dozen Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, marking the first major steps toward peace. This truce allowed vital humanitarian aid to be delivered to the Gaza Strip and provided a welcome respite for civilians on both sides.
Despite lingering uncertainty about the specifics of the exchange, the overall mood is one of optimism and joy, especially as families reunite. So far, 24 hostages were freed by Hamas in exchange for 39 Palestinians. This heartening development has brought palpable happiness and hope for peace.
Hamas has already submitted a list of 14 hostages to be released, which is now being processed by Israel at the behest of Egypt and Qatar. Negotiations have continued, with Egypt’s government press office and state-run Qahera news outlet confirming that 13 hostages will be exchanged for 39 prisoners.
According to Israel’s Prison Service, there are 42 prisoners being prepared for release under the terms of the truce agreement. The concrete details regarding the release of non-Israeli captives remain unclear, but the agreement stipulates that Hamas will release one Israeli hostage for every three prisoners set free by Israel.
Notably, the cease-fire also facilitated the U.N.’s increased delivery of food, water, medicine, and 129,000 liters of fuel to Gaza, marking significant progress in providing essential relief resources to the embattled region.
Moreover, a Qatari delegation is working with key parties on the ground to ensure that peace negotiations proceed smoothly, as a cautious sense of hope and relief starts to settle over the area.
While the cease-fire has brought brief respite to the embattled region, the relief has been tempered by the knowledge that not all hostages will be released and the realization that the pause in fighting is only four days long.
FIRST HOSTAGES FREED
The release of Israeli hostages saw nine women and four children 9 and under being declared safe and received in Israeli hospitals. In a plaza named “Hostages Square” in Tel Aviv, a jubilant crowd celebrated the good news, emphasizing the urgency of freeing all hostages.
On the other hand, the release of 24 Palestinian women and 15 teenage boys held in Israeli prisons ignited celebrations among Palestinians, underscoring the complex mixture of jubilation and sorrow that colors this pivotal moment.
A LONGER PEACE?
The war commenced with a lethal onslaught from Hamas militants, which resulted in a devastating number of casualties, including over 13,300 Palestinians, as reported by the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza government.
These intricate dynamics illustrate the scale of the challenge that lies ahead as both sides grapple with the mixed emotional landscape of elation, relief, and longing for a more enduring peace.
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Magdy reported from Cairo. Associated Press writer Julia Frankel in Jerusalem contributed.
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Full AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.
