The ceasefire in Gaza facilitated a smooth exchange of hostages, with Hamas releasing three Israeli captives and Israel freeing 183 Palestinian prisoners. This exchange marks a significant step towards the second phase of the truce, which aims to secure the release of remaining hostages and extend the ceasefire indefinitely. The Rafah border crossing, crucial for Gaza's access to the outside world, has reopened for the first time since Israel captured it nine months ago.
The ceasefire in Gaza had its smoothest exchange yet of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners on Saturday, and the crucial Rafah border crossing reopened two days before discussions on the truce’s far more difficult second phase begin.
Militants handed Argentinian-Israeli Yarden Bibas and French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon to Red Cross officials in the southern city of Khan Younis, while American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel, looking pale and thin, was handed over in Gaza City. The release of Bibas, 35, brought renewed attention to the fate of his wife, Shiri, and their two sons, Ariel and Kfir, who were four years old and nine months old when they were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz.
“Certainly, it’s an indescribable feeling, and undoubtedly a mixed feeling of both sadness and joy, as we have left our brothers in captivity,” said Mohammad Kaskus, who had been sentenced to 25 years over attacks against Israelis.
GAZA CEASEFIRE HOSTAGE EXCHANGE RAFAH BORDER ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR MIDDLE EAST POLITICS
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