In a significant development in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, Israel has confirmed the release of 90 Palestinian prisoners, marking the first phase of a long-awaited ceasefire deal. According to the Israeli Prison Service, this move follows the release of three Israeli hostages by Hamas in Gaza City, just hours after a ceasefire agreement came into effect.
The hostages—31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher, dual British-Israeli national Emily Damari, 28, and Romi Gonen, 24—were handed over to the Red Cross and later transferred to the Israeli military. Following their release, the three women were taken to a Tel Aviv hospital, where they are reported to be in stable condition. Notably, Emily Damari was seen with bandages covering two missing fingers during a video call with her mother, shared by the BBC’s Lucy Manning.
In exchange for each Israeli hostage released, Hamas has committed to freeing 30 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli detention, creating a tentative framework for ongoing negotiations.
While the ceasefire in Gaza officially came into effect after a delayed start, the atmosphere remains somber, as Palestinians return to the ruins of their homes, many of which were destroyed in the recent conflict. As the delicate ceasefire holds, both sides hope for further progress, though the pain of reconstruction remains ever-present.
Source: The BBC
