
The first day of the Gaza truce brought both relief and heightened emotions as 24 hostages, held captive by Hamas for nearly seven weeks since the deadly October 7 attack on Israel, crossed into Egypt to freedom. In a reciprocal move, Israel released 39 Palestinians in Ramallah, located in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office released a list of the hostages, including 13 Israelis, 10 Thais, and one Filipino, who were freed by Hamas. The released hostages, subjected to an initial medical examination, were welcomed by their families. Notably, eight members from three separate families, including four young children, were among those liberated. Some of the captives were in their 70s, with the oldest being 85, and many hailed from the same kibbutz, Nir Oz.
While celebrations erupted in Ramallah over the release of Palestinian prisoners, the festive atmosphere also transformed into a protest against Israel's occupation and the conflict in Gaza. Some protesters expressed support for Hamas, characterizing the October 7 attack as an act of resistance. Earlier in the day, Israeli soldiers confronted around 150 Palestinian protesters in the West Bank with tear gas.
As the region grapples with the complex aftermath of these exchanges, the day's events underscore the delicate balance between celebration and tension in the context of longstanding conflicts and their far-reaching impact on individuals and communities.
In the streets of Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, jubilation erupted as 39 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli jails on Friday. Hamas, in a statement, praised the liberated individuals as "sons of our struggling Palestinian people" and attributed the exchange deal to its "great action on the battlefield."
Hamas provided a list of expected releases, all hailing from the West Bank or East Jerusalem. Qatar played a pivotal role in brokering the four-day cease-fire deal, which included the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Egypt and the United States were also integral to the negotiations.
Under the terms of the agreement, Hamas is expected to release a total of 50 Israelis over the four-day period in exchange for 150 Palestinians held in Israeli jails. In a social media post on X (formerly Twitter), a spokesman for Qatar's foreign ministry clarified that 10 Thai citizens and a Filipino citizen released on Friday were not part of the truce agreement. These individuals were among thousands of Thais working as farm laborers in Israel.
Anas Baba, NPR's producer, witnessed Red Cross vehicles at the Rafah crossing in Gaza, carrying released Israeli hostages. The truce, commencing at 7 a.m. local time on Friday, followed the Hamas attack that claimed over 1,200 Israeli lives and resulted in approximately 240 hostages. Israel responded with airstrikes and a ground campaign in Gaza, causing over 12,000 Palestinian casualties, according to Gaza's health ministry.
Further hostage-for-prisoner swaps are anticipated in batches during the remaining days of the truce, with the possibility of extension up to 10 days, as Israel explores a path to sustained peace amid this complex and evolving situation.
The release of the 13 Israeli hostages was met with meticulous planning, as the Israeli military shared images of a helicopter equipped with rows of noise-canceling headphones, prepared to transport the freed individuals to a military reception center. Following this, officials stated that the hostages would undergo medical assessments before reuniting with their families. Tragically, social workers will be present to convey the devastating news that some of their friends and relatives fell victim to the October 7 Hamas attacks.
In Tel Aviv, volunteers distributed yellow ribbons to support hostage families, emphasizing the resilience of the community. Hadas Calderon, whose children and ex-husband are held in Gaza, stood outside Israel's main army base in Tel Aviv, holding a sign that proclaimed 'the power of mothers.'
President Biden, addressing the situation from Nantucket, Massachusetts, acknowledged the initial success of the hostage release, while emphasizing that efforts continue to free the remaining hostages, including two women and a 4-year-old girl. Biden expressed determination to bring all hostages home and find answers about their whereabouts.
Responding to questions about the timing of the Americans' release, Biden expressed hope for a swift resolution. He highlighted the urgent need to deliver food, medicine, water, and fuel to Gaza, acknowledging the devastation caused by Israeli airstrikes and tanks. Reaffirming his commitment to a two-state solution for regional stability, Biden thanked Qatar and Egypt for their collaboration in securing the deal.
Amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, efforts are underway to provide aid, with the U.N. reporting the dispatch of 200 trucks, marking the largest humanitarian convoy since October 7, to address the pressing needs of the affected population.
A truck carrying crucial humanitarian aid entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing with Egypt, marking a positive development following the initiation of a four-day truce between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants. The U.N. reported that 129,000 liters (about 34,000 gallons) of fuel, along with four trucks of gas, entered Gaza. Additionally, a large-scale medical operation successfully evacuated 21 "critical patients" from the north of Gaza.
The U.N. office detailed the widespread impact of humanitarian efforts, assisting hundreds of thousands with food, water, medical supplies, and other essential items. However, the challenge of meeting the demands of the entire Gaza Strip persists, with overcrowding and unsanitary conditions posing threats to public health.
In the initial hours of the cease-fire, crowds of Palestinians in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, flooded the streets. Some attempted to return to their homes for the first time since the conflict began. Amid the pause, both Hamas and Israel traded blame for alleged violations. Israel's military reported that Hamas launched rockets 15 minutes after the truce commenced, while Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry claimed that Israeli soldiers opened fire, resulting in two fatalities and 30 injuries.
Israeli security forces asserted the arrest of over 1,950 "wanted persons" since the conflict's onset, with approximately 1,100 detainees linked to the terrorist organization Hamas. As the fragile truce unfolds, reports of alleged violations underscore the delicate nature of the situation on the ground.
In southern Gaza, Mohammed El Azzazi, a pharmacist from Rafah, voiced skepticism about the effectiveness of the cease-fire. "There are no results from this pause, a pause where people can't return to their homes and injuries among people trying to go home," he shared with NPR. The sentiment reflects the complex realities on the ground, where the cessation of hostilities has yet to bring tangible relief to those affected.
Conversely, at the Qalandiya refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Raed Hhadeh, a physics teacher in Ramallah, expressed mixed feelings regarding the cease-fire. "I feel good for the people to have rest from the bombardment, but this is not the solution," he conveyed to NPR. Hhadeh emphasized the gravity of the situation, condemning what he perceives as a massacre, particularly the impact on children. He stressed the urgent need to halt the violence, stating that Gazans returning to their homes in the east "won't find anything left."
These contrasting perspectives highlight the nuanced emotions and divergent expectations within different regions affected by the conflict. The cease-fire, while providing a temporary respite for some, is met with reservations and calls for a more sustainable solution to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis. NPR's Scott Neuman and Daniel Estrin reported from Tel Aviv, with contributions from Brian Mann in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
In conclusion, the perspectives from southern Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank underscore the complex and nuanced emotions surrounding the recent cease-fire. Mohammed El Azzazi's skepticism in Gaza reflects the challenges on the ground, where the pause in hostilities has yet to bring tangible relief or enable people to return to their homes. Meanwhile, Raed Hhadeh in the West Bank expresses a mix of relief for the respite from bombardment but emphasizes that this temporary cessation is not a comprehensive solution. His poignant words capture the gravity of the situation, deeming it a massacre and calling for an end to the violence. These diverse reactions illuminate the multifaceted nature of the conflict and the varied expectations for a sustainable resolution that addresses the complex humanitarian crisis.