Ceasefire Brings New Hope in Gaza; Hamas Releases First Hostages to Red Cross

Gaza City – A ray of hope emerged in Gaza on Sunday as Hamas released its first group of hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) under a ceasefire agreement. The hostages were part of a deal to end 15 months of intense conflict in Gaza, which has seen heavy casualties and destruction on both sides.

Celebrations broke out in the streets as Palestinians made their way back to their shattered homes. Live television footage showed three Israeli women, who had been captured during the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, being escorted from a vehicle and transferred to ICRC trucks. The release of these women marks the first step in a broader exchange, with Hamas having identified them as Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Damari. An Israeli official confirmed that the hostages were in good health.

In exchange, 90 Palestinian prisoners, including 69 women and 21 teenage boys, were set to be released by Israel. This exchange forms part of the truce's initial phase, which will see 33 of the 98 Israeli and foreign hostages still held in Gaza freed over the next six weeks.

The ceasefire agreement followed months of negotiations involving Egypt, Qatar, and the United States. It was finalized just ahead of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who had demanded the release of hostages as a condition for peace.

While many Palestinians celebrated the halt in fighting, others mourned the destruction around them. Displaced residents, like Aya from Gaza City, expressed mixed feelings. "It feels like I've found some water after being lost in the desert for 15 months," she said, but added that the pain of lost loved ones and destroyed homes remains overwhelming.

The ceasefire allowed aid trucks to enter Gaza, with 600 trucks of supplies expected daily during the first phase of the truce. Aid deliveries are crucial for Gaza’s northern regions, where food shortages have become critical, and the threat of famine looms large.

The war, which erupted after Hamas militants attacked Israeli towns and villages on October 7, 2023, has taken a devastating toll. Over 47,000 Palestinians have been killed, and nearly the entire population of Gaza—around 2.3 million people—has been displaced. On the Israeli side, nearly 400 soldiers have lost their lives.

Despite the ceasefire, concerns remain about the future of Gaza. There is no clear plan for rebuilding the war-torn region or establishing post-war governance. Israel insists that any lasting peace must include the complete dismantling of Hamas, a position that has led to political divisions within the Israeli government.

As both sides adjust to this temporary truce, the international community watches closely, hoping this fragile peace will pave the way for a longer-term resolution to a conflict that has claimed far too many lives.