In a historic second, Hamas has handed over the past 20 residing Israeli hostages captured within the October 7, 2023 assault, confirming that they may now not be held in Gaza.
The discharge, facilitated underneath US President Donald Trump’s formidable 20-point Gaza peace plan, was carried out in two elements by the Purple Cross in southern Gaza, with the freed prisoners flown to Reims army base for medical analysis and household reunification. The breakthrough ends 730 days of harrowing ordeal for households within the struggle that has devastated Gaza and claimed the lives of greater than 67,000 Palestinians.
The handover marks the completion of the primary section of President Trump’s ceasefire framework with Qatar and Egypt, brokered by U.S. particular envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. In return, Israel launched practically 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, a lot of whom had been serving lengthy sentences for hostilities, and allowed them to return to Gaza or search asylum. A partial withdrawal of the Israel Protection Forces (IDF) to the “Yellow Line” has already begun, permitting extra humanitarian help to be delivered by the reopened Rafah border. “Whereas this settlement represents progress in direction of the return of everybody, our wrestle ends with the final hostage left,” the Hostage Households Discussion board mentioned.
Israeli hostages had been stored underneath torture
These freed embrace civilians akin to Matan Zangaukar, 25, from Nir Oz Kibbutz, who was kidnapped on the Nova Music Competition, and Alon Oher, 24, a multinational competition attendee. Profiles reveal survivors of tunnels, hunger and psychological struggling, many displaying indicators of trauma upon arrival. “We actually needed to see the remaining…” “It is heartbreaking,” Rotem Cooper mentioned stay on the BBC as he waited for his father’s physique to be returned.
The general public response has been enthusiastic. Whereas 65,000 Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Sq. and cheered, Gazans expressed combined reduction as they returned to their dwelling strewn with rubble. Nonetheless, there are nonetheless hurdles to beat. The second section requires the whole disarmament of Hamas and a transition to technocratic rule, with rebuilding prices estimated at $50 billion over 10 years.
“The Hamas deal makes clear its intentions and its constraints. It’s a optimistic step, however there’s a threat that Hamas will govern Gaza with out governing it,” Jonathan Panikov, a former U.S. intelligence official, warned in an evaluation for the Atlantic Council.
Consultants are maintaining a tally of the Egyptian summit for governance talks as a whole bunch of help vehicles arrive every day. Of the unique 251 hostages, 155 at the moment are alive and have returned dwelling, and though the disarmament of Hamas stays a flashpoint, the trade presents cautious hope for lasting peace.