Hamas Hands Over Last Surviving Israeli Hostage In Historic Ceasefire

In a historical moment, Hamas has handed complete nan last 20 surviving Israeli hostages who were captured during nan October 7, 2023, onslaught and has now confirmed it nary longer holds immoderate much successful Gaza.

The release, which was facilitated nether US President Donald Trump’s eager 20-point Gaza bid plan, took spot successful 2 batches via nan Red Cross successful confederate Gaza, pinch nan freed captives airlifted to Re’im subject guidelines for aesculapian evaluations and family reunions. The breakthrough ends a harrowing 730-day ordeal for families successful a warfare that has devastated Gaza and claimed complete 67,000 Palestinian lives.

The handover is nan completion of shape 1 successful Trump’s ceasefire framework, brokered by US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, pinch Qatar and Egypt. In exchange, Israel released astir 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, galore serving agelong sentences for militancy, allowing them to return to Gaza aliases exile. Partial Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) withdrawal to a “yellow line” has already begun, enabling overmuch much humanitarian assistance done nan reopened Rafah crossing. “This deal represents advancement toward bringing everyone home, but our struggle ends only pinch nan past hostage,” stated nan Hostages Families Forum.

Isreali hostages had been kept successful torturous conditions

Among those released are civilians for illustration Matan Zangauker, a 25-year-old from Nir Oz kibbutz abducted astatine nan Nova euphony festival, and Alon Ohel, a 24-year-old multi-citizen festivalgoer. Profiles uncover survivors of tunnels, starvation, and psychological torment, pinch galore showing signs of trauma upon arrival. “We really want to spot nan rest… “It’s heartbreaking,” shared Rotem Cooper, awaiting his father’s body’s return, during BBC unrecorded coverage.

Public reactions person been ecstatic. In Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, 65,000 Israelis gathered successful joyous chants, while Gazans expressed mixed alleviation amid rubble-strewn returns home. Yet location are still hurdles to overcome: Phase 2 demands Hamas‘s afloat disarmament and a displacement to technocratic governance, pinch reconstruction costs estimated astatine $50 cardinal complete a decade.

“Hamas’s statement exposes intentions and constraints—it’s a affirmative measurement but risks them reigning without ruling Gaza,” warned Jonathan Panikoff, erstwhile US intelligence official, successful an Atlantic Council analysis.

As assistance trucks rotation in, hundreds daily, experts oculus an Egypt acme for governance talks. With 155 of nan 251 original hostages now live and home, nan speech offers cautious hope for lasting peace, though Hamas’s disarmament remains nan flashpoint.