A tenuous truce aimed at ending the war in the Gaza Strip is entering its second week on Sunday, following the release of four Israeli hostages and approximately 200 Palestinian prisoners, which were met with scenes of joy on both sides.
A last-minute disagreement delayed the planned return of hundreds of thousands of displaced residents to northern Gaza on Saturday, highlighting the challenges of implementing the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
The war was triggered by an unprecedented Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, leaving 1,210 Israelis dead. Israel's subsequent 15-month military offensive in the besieged Gaza Strip led to at least 47,283 deaths, mostly civilians, according to Hamas' Ministry of Health.
Israel insisted that the 'Netzarim corridor', which separates southern Gaza from the north, would only open upon the release of a civilian hostage, Arbel Yehud. Israel claimed that Hamas had not fulfilled an undisclosed term of the truce agreement, which required the release of civilian hostages first.
In the meantime, Samia Helles from Gaza City found herself stranded with her three children. "I still don't know if my house is standing or destroyed… if my mother is alive or dead," the 26-year-old told AFP.
A Hamas leader, speaking anonymously to AFP, stated that the civilian hostage would be released during the third exchange scheduled for 1 February.
The initial exchange, involving three Israeli hostages for 90 Palestinian prisoners, took place on the first day of the truce, 19 January, in the devastated Palestinian territory suffering from a severe humanitarian crisis.
During the second exchange on Saturday, Daniella Gilboa, Karina Ariev, Liri Albag, and Naama Levy, aged 19 to 20, were presented on a stage before a crowd. They were surrounded by masked fighters from the military wings of Hamas and the allied Islamic Jihad.
Hamas fighters escort four Israeli hostages to hand them over to a team from the Red Cross in Gaza City on 25 January 2025. Hamas militants handed over four Israeli women hostages to the Red Cross in a January 25 swap after parading them on a stage at a square in Gaza, an AFP journalist reported.
Smiling and wearing khaki uniforms, the women greeted the gathered Palestinians before being brought back to Israel, where they were reunited with their families. The Israeli army released photos of their long embraces.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the release as a "very happy moment." The White House affirmed its commitment to working with Israel for the "release of all remaining hostages."
In Tel Aviv, joyous cries erupted in 'Hostage Square' among the families and supporters of the soldiers upon seeing live images of their release.
The first phase of the ceasefire agreement is set to last six weeks and aims to facilitate the release of 33 hostages in total, in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.
