By Nakiwala Barbra
A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect on Sunday, leading to the release of 90 Palestinian prisoners by Israel and three Israeli hostages by Hamas.
The agreement, brokered with the help of international mediators, marks a pause in the 15-month war that has devastated the Gaza Strip and claimed thousands of lives.
The hostages Romi Gonen, 24, Doron Steinbrecher, 31, and Emily Damari, 28 were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza before being transported to a military base in southern Israel. Two of the women had sustained gunshot wounds during the October 2023 Hamas attack that killed over 1,200 Israelis and saw 251 people taken captive. The hostages were reunited with their families at a medical facility near Tel Aviv.
In exchange, 90 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli jails and allowed to return to their homes in the West Bank. The handover was met with celebration, though tensions remain high as both sides grapple with the aftermath of the prolonged conflict. The deal also paves the way for additional releases, with more hostages and prisoners set to be exchanged over the next six weeks if the ceasefire holds.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains critical, with over 46,900 Palestinians killed and 60% of infrastructure destroyed during the conflict. Thousands remain displaced, with limited access to shelter, food, and medical aid. International aid deliveries resumed following the ceasefire, but the scale of need is overwhelming, according to the UN.
The ceasefire has also deepened divisions within Israel’s government, with far-right ministers resigning in protest over the release of Palestinian prisoners. Despite the criticism, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the agreement as a necessary step to secure the hostages’ freedom.
For now, the ceasefire offers a brief respite from the violence, but its fragility leaves many uncertain about the future. “The bloodshed has stopped, and that is the most important thing,” said Abdallah Shabbir, a doctor in Gaza. “But the pain and loss are in every home
