A Calm Morning in Gaza After Months of Turmoil
After 471 days of relentless attacks by the Israeli army on the Gaza Strip, a ceasefire has finally brought peace to the region. Gazans woke up to a quiet morning after the ceasefire took effect, but many returned to find their homes destroyed. International experts have noted that Khan Younis, in particular, has suffered severe destruction among all settlements in Gaza.
As part of the ceasefire and a prisoner exchange agreement with Israel, Hamas released 3 Israeli prisoners, prompting Israel to release 90 Palestinian detainees held in Ofer Military Prison near Ramallah. The release was briefly delayed due to a missing female prisoner, but eventually, 90 Palestinians, including women, children, and teenagers, were freed. Videos captured the emotional moment as the released prisoners were welcomed by crowds in Ramallah.
The next phase of the exchange will see Hamas releasing four more female hostages on Saturday, followed by 26 more hostages within 5 weeks. In total, 1,900 Palestinian prisoners or detainees will be released in exchange for 33 Israeli hostages as part of the ceasefire agreement.
On the humanitarian front, aid to Gaza has begun pouring in following the ceasefire. The United Nations reported that over 630 humanitarian aid trucks crossed into Gaza on the first day of the ceasefire, with 300 of them carrying aid to the north of Gaza. UN Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that after 15 months of war, the humanitarian needs in Gaza are immense.
