Israelis and Palestinians are eagerly awaiting the next steps in the 42-day Gaza ceasefire as the truce between Israel and Hamas has held for a week. Hamas is expected to release the names of four female hostages, while Israel will publish the names of over 100 Palestinian prisoners to be freed in exchange. The coming weekend will be a crucial test for the agreement.
The ceasefire also includes Israeli forces withdrawing from central Gaza to allow displaced Palestinians to return home. Hamas is to provide information on the remaining hostages to be released, including Israeli female soldiers abducted in 2023.
The ceasefire went into effect on Sunday, pausing the fighting and allowing for the release of some hostages in exchange for Palestinians jailed by Israel. The deal has been seen as bittersweet, with Gazans grateful for a break after 15 months of war but fearing for their future, and Israelis experiencing joy over the release of three hostages but concern over Hamas’s display of power.
The war began with a Hamas-led attack on Israel, followed by Israeli military action in Gaza that resulted in thousands of deaths. Roughly 94 hostages remain in Gaza, with some presumed dead. The ceasefire has given hope for peace but also raised concerns about the future of the region.
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