Khan Yunis, Gaza – February 20: Aerial view of chimney members of Hamas military forces taking precautions around the cemetery in the city of Bani Suheila, facing the bodies of the Bibas family (three members) and ODED LIFSHITZ as 2025 On February 20, Hamas-Israel prisoners in the Khan Yunis province of Gaza were handed over to the Red Cross. Al-Qassam Brigades declared that four Israeli hostages were still alive, but Israeli, but the army deliberately bombed the detention site in the attack in the Gaza Strip and killed them. (Photography by Hasan Eslayeh/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Nuseirat, Gaza Strip (AP) – Hamas Even as tensions between opponents intensify, the first two of Israeli hostages are released A fragile ceasefire deal.
The two hostages – Tal Shoham, 40, and Avera Mengistu, 38, were sent to the Red Cross after being brought to the stage by masked and armed Hamas fighters in front of crowds in the southern city of Gaza. Soon after, the Israeli military confirmed that the two had been brought into Israel.
A few hours later, the Red Cross vehicles arrived at the central town of Nuseirat for the next traffic.
The latest hostage release, which will subsequently release hundreds of Palestinians in prison in Israel, was triggered this week when Hamas initially handed over the wrong body to Shiri Bibas. A heartbreaking dispute. Mother of two little boys in Israel Kidnapped by militants.
Hamas’ body transferred with his son’s body on Thursday was later identified as an unidentified Palestinian woman. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to take revenge for “cruel and malicious violations”, which Hamas believed was a mistake.
The small armed group was believed to have been holding Bibas and her son – the Palestinian Mujahideen Brigade – on Friday night, saying it handed over a second body. On Saturday morning, Bibas’ family said Israeli forensic authorities had confirmed the body was hers.
“For 16 months we sought certainty, and now it’s here, it won’t bring comfort, even though we hope it marks the beginning of the closure,” the family said.
The next phase of the ceasefire could lead to difficult negotiations
The dispute over human identity has raised new suspicions about the ceasefire agreement, which has been suspended in a 15-month war but is about to end the end of the first phase. In the second phase of negotiations, Hamas will release dozens of hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire and Israeli evacuation, which may be even more difficult.
The six hostages released on Saturday were the last creature released in the first phase of the ceasefire. The new release brings moments of joy and relief to the family, but fears that the fate of the remaining hostages captured on October 7, 2023 remains as Hamas attacks Hamas The attacks of Sri Lanka killed 1,200 people in Israel and ignited the war. .
“It’s a memorable moment, and all emotions are quickly mixing together. Our TAL is with us,” Shoham’s family said in a statement. “There is a window of opportunity; we must not miss it.”
Shoham, who also holds Austrian citizenship, attacked Hamas militants in the October 7, 2023 attack to visit his family at Kibbutz Be’eri. Shoham’s wife, two young children and three other relatives whom he kidnapped were released in November 2023 exchange.
Ethiopia – Israel’s Musetus has been in Gaza since entering Gaza alone in 2014. Watching the handover in Israeli media, the Hebrew songs erupted in Mongistu’s family, “This is Light”, “This is Light” for more than a decade.
Others released on Saturday include Eliya Cohen, 27; Omer Shem Tov, 22; Omer Wenkert, 23, was kidnapped in an Oct. 7 attack for a festival. Hisham al-Sayed, 36, also crossed Gaza several years ago and will also return to Israel as part of the deal.
Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners to be released
The Palestinian Prisoner Media Office said Friday that more than 600 Palestinians who were imprisoned in Israel will be released in exchange. The released prisoners include 50 sentences, 60 long sentences, and 47 were released in former hostage-prisoner exchanges, and Israeli forces have occupied 445 Palestinians in Gaza since the beginning of the war.
Hamas said four more bodies will be released next week to complete the first phase of the ceasefire. Hamas will keep about 60 hostages if the plan is implemented, about half of them are considered alive.
Trump’s Gaza plan adds uncertainty
Trump’s proposal About 2 million Palestinians are to be withdrawn from Gaza so that the United States can Own and rebuild it Put the ceasefire in further doubt. His idea was popular with Netanyahu, but was generally rejected by Palestinians and Arab countries.
Trump said Friday that he was “slightly surprised” by the proposals from Egypt and Jordan that he would not impose them.
“I will tell you that the way to do this is my plan. I think it’s a plan that works. But I’m not forcing it. I’m just going to sit down and recommend it,” Trump said in a copy. Interview.
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, Israel’s military offensive killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, mainly women and children, and the ministry did not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israel said it has killed more than 17,000 fighter jets and provided no evidence.
attack Destroyed the vast area of Gazareduce the entire community to rubble. At its peak, war accounted for 90% of Gaza’s population. Many people can’t find anything when they return home. Unable to rebuild.
