Hamas to Release Hostages Amid Ceasefire Delays and Rising Tensions

Hamas has announced the names of three women hostages it plans to release this Sunday. However, this announcement came more than two hours after a ceasefire was supposed to start in Gaza. Israel had said it would continue fighting until it received the names of these hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas had not kept its promise to give the names before the ceasefire began. The delay raised concerns about the fragile peace agreement. Despite the uncertainty, celebrations broke out in parts of Gaza, with some Palestinians returning to their homes.

Hamas claimed the delay was due to “technical reasons” but promised to follow the ceasefire deal announced last week. Meanwhile, the Israeli military continued its operations, hitting multiple targets in Gaza. The health ministry reported that at least three people were killed in Gaza City during the latest strikes.

The ceasefire, negotiated with the help of the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, is the first step to ending this long conflict. Netanyahu had warned that the ceasefire wouldn’t start until Israel had the names of the hostages.

In the first stage of the ceasefire, 33 hostages are expected to be freed, while hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will also be released. The deal aims to allow displaced Palestinians to return home and increase humanitarian aid in the devastated region.

Despite the ongoing tension, people in Gaza celebrated. Crowds cheered in the streets of Khan Younis and waved flags, showing support for Hamas. Many families began to return home, carrying their belongings on donkey carts, despite the sound of explosions in the distance.

This ceasefire comes at a crucial time, and the next phase of negotiations will start in about two weeks, with many questions about the future still unanswered. The war has caused tremendous suffering, with over 46,000 Palestinians reported killed. The conflict that began on October 7, 2023, also resulted in over 1,200 Israeli deaths, creating a dire situation for the 90% of Gaza’s population that has been displaced.