Jerusalem: All living hostages held in the Gaza Strip are set to be released early Monday morning as part of a breakthrough ceasefire deal with Hamas, Israel announced on Sunday. Meanwhile, Palestinians anticipate the release of hundreds of prisoners held in Israel, marking a significant step towards peace after years of conflict.
According to France24.com, US President Donald Trump is scheduled to arrive in Israel on Monday morning to meet with the families of the hostages and speak at the Knesset, Israel's parliament. The ceasefire deal not only paves the way for the release of hostages but also allows for a surge of humanitarian aid into the famine-stricken Gaza territory.
Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Israel's military chief of staff, expressed optimism about the upcoming reunifications, stating, "In a few hours, we will all be reunited." The ceasefire, which ends a two-year war, is being celebrated with international involvement, including an upcoming visit to Israel and Egypt by President Trump to acknowledge the peace efforts.
Efforts are being organized to locate deceased hostages who are not returned within 72 hours, as noted by Gal Hirsch, Israel's coordinator for the Hostages and the Missing. The search for remains, potentially buried under rubble, is anticipated to be a challenging task.
While the exact timing for the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel is yet to be announced, it includes 250 individuals serving life sentences and 1,700 others detained from Gaza during the conflict. Dr. Mounir al-Boursh of Gaza's Health Ministry hopes that the bodies of medical personnel who died in Israeli detention will also be returned.
Preparations are advancing on Gaza’s borders to enhance the flow of aid into the territory. The Israeli military body responsible for humanitarian aid in Gaza stated that aid entering the region is expected to increase to around 600 trucks per day, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement.
Tom Fletcher, UN humanitarian chief, highlighted the dire conditions in Gaza, describing it as a wasteland. He affirmed that the UN has a two-month plan to restore essential services and deliver substantial humanitarian aid to the area. Meanwhile, Egypt has confirmed the dispatch of 400 aid trucks to Gaza, with AP footage capturing the movement of these vehicles through the Rafah border crossing.
The United Nations has prepared approximately 170,000 metric tons of aid, ready to enter Gaza upon receiving clearance from Israel. Abeer Etifa from the World Food Program mentioned ongoing efforts to clear and repair roads to facilitate these deliveries.
The status of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which replaced the UN as the primary food supplier in Gaza, remains uncertain. Similarly, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, is awaiting clarity on its role in the relief operations, although it has sufficient food supplies in its warehouses to support Gaza's entire population for three months.
President Trump's visit aims to reinforce the ceasefire agreement he helped broker. He is expected to continue to Egypt for a peace summit co-chaired with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and other regional leaders.
While the ceasefire has been welcomed, the long-term resolution of governance in Gaza and the fate of Hamas, including its disarmament, remain unresolved. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz indicated plans to dismantle Hamas's tunnel networks under Gaza, pending the release of hostages.
As Palestinians return to areas vacated by Israeli forces, many find their homes reduced to rubble. Mohamed Samy, a resident of Jabaliya, recounted finding his home flattened, describing the scene as an empty plot of land.
The temporary pause in hostilities has allowed for the recovery of bodies previously inaccessible due to the conflict. Health officials report that 233 bodies have been retrieved since the truce began, although some arrived at hospitals as mere bones.
The conflict, which began with a surprise attack by Hamas-led militants on October 7, 2023, resulted in significant casualties on both sides. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, over 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, with about half being women and children. Despite the cessation of violence, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains dire, necessitating continued international attention and aid.