GAZA: In a significant development on Saturday, Hamas released three Israeli hostages and 183 Palestinian prisoners as part of a truce aimed at ending the 15-month war in Gaza. The hostages, including French-Israeli dual national Ofer Kalderon, Yarden Bibas, and Israeli-American Keith Siegel, were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza before being transferred to Israel. The exchange also saw the release of 183 Palestinian prisoners, with 150 arriving in Gaza and 32 being greeted by large crowds in Ramallah.
Ali Al-Barghouti, a freed Palestinian prisoner serving two life sentences, expressed his joy at being freed, despite the hardships endured, and highlighted the ongoing struggle against Israeli occupation. Meanwhile, at the Rafah crossing, Palestinian patients, including children with cancer and heart conditions, were allowed to leave Gaza for treatment in Egypt. However, Gaza’s Health Ministry criticized the limited number of patients allowed to travel, emphasizing the need for more extensive medical support for the 18,000 people in need.
In Israel, families of the released hostages gathered in Tel Aviv to watch the handover on outdoor screens, celebrating the return of their loved ones. French President Emmanuel Macron also expressed relief at Kalderon’s release, after over 480 days in captivity.
This exchange marks a further step in the ongoing ceasefire efforts, with more hostages expected to be released in the coming days. Negotiations are set to begin on Tuesday regarding the second phase of the deal, which would focus on the release of additional hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Despite setbacks and ongoing challenges, diplomatic talks continue in the hope of achieving a lasting settlement and an end to the devastating conflict.
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