On Thursday, Hamas announced it is prepared to negotiate the next stage of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. This comes after they returned the remains of four hostages, and in exchange, Israel released over 600 Palestinian detainees. This swap is the last of its kind before a truce ends this weekend. Talks for the next phase, where Hamas would release more hostages in return for additional prisoner releases and a lasting ceasefire, haven’t started yet.
An Israeli official has stated that the army will not leave a key area along the Gaza-Egypt border as agreed in the ceasefire deal. This decision could create problems with both Hamas and Egypt, who are trying to mediate peace.
In a separate incident in Israel, a man drove his car into a group of people at a bus stop, injuring at least eight. The driver, a 53-year-old Palestinian, was shot and killed by police. This attack was seen as a show of defiance by Hamas, who praised it even though they did not claim responsibility.
Meanwhile, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is planning to meet with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington. This meeting could impact U.S. policies on Israeli settlements, which many countries consider illegal.
Also, on Thursday, Israel released 46 Palestinian teenagers and women back to their families in Gaza. They were greeted with hugs and tears. Many had been held in Israeli prisons, and rights groups have highlighted concerns about their treatment. Israeli officials have admitted they are still holding 24 Palestinian detainees whose release was supposed to happen together with the others.
The final release came after Israel sent back the bodies of four hostages, including three that have already been identified by families.
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