Hamas To Release Israeli Hostages Saturday

Hamas says it will release hostages as planned, apparently resolving ceasefire dispute

This is what returning home looks like after 15 months of unrelenting war. There is little left to salvage here in what once was Gaza’s densely populated Al Bore refugee camp. Israel’s military onslaught leaving this small strip of land almost entirely uninhabitable. This was our house, our garden, Amel says. This was our whole life, all our memories. Her daughter clutches on to whatever toys they were able to recover from their destroyed home. Like all families here, they will now try to carry on with life, no matter what uncertainty lies ahead. In Gaza City, the streets have already begun to fill in the absence of air strikes and artillery. Little girls dressed in the traditional Palestinian hole, celebratory cakes being shared in the streets. For many, amid so much loss, the ceasefire is both *** moment of long awaited respite and *** moment of rare joy. Even though we are heading into *** difficult and uncertain phase, the thought of no longer losing the people you love, of being able to sleep one night without the fear of losing someone dear to you, is truly *** relief, this woman says. For over *** year now, Palestinians in Gaza have spent each night hoping to survive just one more day. Gaza is small, but it’s survived against the world. The whole world was defeated, and we endured. To persevere is in itself *** victory. But even under *** ceasefire, the war has made survival at its most basic level *** persistent challenge for Palestinians in Gaza. In Rafah, an area once designated *** safe zone, the remains of decomposing bodies are *** reminder of the kind of brutality Gaza’s people have survived. Buildings stand hollowed beside mountains of rubble, some returning to their now destroyed homes, but this time alone, their loved ones killed over the course of the war. We are defeated. We have no life left. We will live in the streets, Mohammed says. I came here hoping to see my house still standing, but I found it destroyed. With so much lost in Gaza, the road ahead will be long and difficult. But despite the incomprehensible suffering this small enclave has faced, there remains an unwavering sense of hope.

Hamas says it will release hostages as planned, apparently resolving ceasefire dispute

Hamas said Thursday it would release the next group of Israeli hostages as planned, apparently resolving a major dispute that threatened the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.Video above: Gaza residents process grief and loss after Israel-Hamas ceasefireThe militant group said Egyptian and Qatari mediators have affirmed that they will work to “remove all hurdles,” and that it would implement the ceasefire deal.The statement indicated three more Israeli hostages would be freed Saturday. There was no immediate comment from Israel after Hamas’ announcement.Hamas’ move would allow the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to continue for now, but its future remains in doubt.Hamas had threatened to delay the next release of Israeli hostages, accusing Israel of failing to meet its obligations to allow in tents and shelters, among other alleged violations of the truce. Israel, with the support of President Donald Trump, had threatened to renew its offensive if hostages were not freed.Hamas said its delegation held talks in Cairo with Egyptian officials and was in contact with Qatar’s prime minister about increasing the entry of shelters, medical supplies, fuel and heavy equipment for clearing rubble into Gaza.Egypt’s state-run Qahera TV, which is close to the country’s security services, reported that Egypt and Qatar had succeeded in resolving the dispute. The two Arab countries have served as key mediators with Hamas and helped broker the ceasefire, which took effect in January, 15 months into the war.

CAIRO —

Hamas said Thursday it would release the next group of Israeli hostages as planned, apparently resolving a major dispute that threatened the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Video above: Gaza residents process grief and loss after Israel-Hamas ceasefire

The militant group said Egyptian and Qatari mediators have affirmed that they will work to “remove all hurdles,” and that it would implement the ceasefire deal.

The statement indicated three more Israeli hostages would be freed Saturday. There was no immediate comment from Israel after Hamas’ announcement.

Hamas’ move would allow the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to continue for now, but its future remains in doubt.

Hamas had threatened to delay the next release of Israeli hostages, accusing Israel of failing to meet its obligations to allow in tents and shelters, among other alleged violations of the truce. Israel, with the support of President Donald Trump, had threatened to renew its offensive if hostages were not freed.

Hamas said its delegation held talks in Cairo with Egyptian officials and was in contact with Qatar’s prime minister about increasing the entry of shelters, medical supplies, fuel and heavy equipment for clearing rubble into Gaza.

Egypt’s state-run Qahera TV, which is close to the country’s security services, reported that Egypt and Qatar had succeeded in resolving the dispute. The two Arab countries have served as key mediators with Hamas and helped broker the ceasefire, which took effect in January, 15 months into the war.

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