Here's what happens next during the ceasefire in Gaza
Here's what happens next during the ceasefire in Gaza
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The first week of the latest ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas militant group is complete. Hamas has begun to release hostages and Israel has freed nearly 300 Palestinian prisoners. But the deal has hit its first major complication. Israel on Saturday said a female civilian hostage named Arbel Yehoud was supposed to be released and it has delayed the planned return of hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza.
Here’s a look at what’s ahead in the five remaining weeks of the ceasefire's first phase. What’s happened so far. This is the second ceasefire in 15 months of the deadliest and most destructive war between Israel and Hamas, which controls Gaza. The first occurred over a year ago and lasted a week. The current ceasefire is longer and holds the potential to end the war, though the steps toward that are vastly more challenging than what’s unfolding now. The mediators are Qatar, Egypt and the United States.
Early this week, the first three Israeli hostages held in Gaza were released and the first 90 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel were released several hours later. On Saturday, another four hostages and 200 Palestinian prisoners were released. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have pulled back to buffer zones inside Gaza, fighting has stopped, hundreds of trucks carrying humanitarian aid have entered the territory and many Palestinians displaced by the war have been returning to what remains of their homes and communities.
