Palestinians and Israelis voiced cautious hope regarding reports of an imminent ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the potential release of remaining hostages after over a year of conflict.
In Gaza City, 17-year-old Sanabel expressed both optimism and anxiety. Speaking from her partially damaged home, she described plans to reunite with displaced friends while noting her fears about continued bombing in her area. “I don’t want a temporary ceasefire – I want peace for the rest of our lives,” she stated.
Asmaa Tayeh, sheltering in western Gaza City’s al-Nasr neighborhood, described the widespread anticipation among residents. Originally from Jabalia refugee camp, her family has faced multiple evacuations during the conflict.
On the Israeli side, Sharon Lifshitz, whose 84-year-old father remains in captivity, shared mixed emotions about the potential deal. “Each hostage is a whole world,” she noted, acknowledging that some families already know their loved ones are deceased.
Qatar’s foreign ministry indicated that only the final details of the negotiations remain. Both Israeli officials and Hamas expressed satisfaction with the talks’ progress, while U.S. Secretary of State Blinken described the deal as “right on the brink.”
However, some families of hostages voiced concerns about relatives potentially being left behind. Ruby Chen, whose son’s body is held in Gaza, criticized the deal for not including all captives. Prime Minister Netanyahu faces internal opposition from far-right cabinet members regarding prisoner releases and ceasefire terms.
Blinken outlined the U.S. administration’s post-war vision for Gaza, proposing international security forces alongside vetted Palestinian personnel rather than immediate Palestinian Authority control. He noted that Israel’s military campaign had extended beyond destroying Hamas’s military capacity, suggesting the group had recruited approximately as many new militants as Israel had eliminated.
The conflict began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Since then, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry has reported over 46,640 Palestinian deaths. Most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents are displaced, facing severe shortages of essential supplies. Of the original hostages, Israel states 94 remain in captivity, with 34 presumed deceased.”
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