Gaza Ceasefire& Hostage Release

Alok k. Shrivastava,Ex- Chief Secretary, Sikkim

A ceasefire in the Gaza Strip has finally been enforced. One hopes it may last and sustain in the name of humanity

PART-II

Tough Stand of Israel

Prime Minister Netanyahu has made it clear that Israel would not proceed with a ceasefire until a list of hostages to be released by Hamas was received. Further, according to the Justice Ministry of Israel, 737 prisoners and detainees are to be freed as part of the first phase of the deal.

As the truce was to be implemented from the moment Donald Trump was to take the oath, he claimed credit for working with outgoing President Joe Biden's team to seal the deal. The President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, has added that they had completed preparations for assuming full responsibility in Gaza.

Last-Minute Delay

A last-minute delay by Hamas, nonetheless, put off the start of the truce by nearly three hours. During this brief period, Israeli warplanes and artillery pounded the Gaza Strip and killed 13 people. The Israelis did not show even a semblance of compassion.

Release of Three Israeli Women Soldiers

Three Israeli women hostages held by Hamas were at last allowed to get into the vehicles of the International Committee of the Red Cross. They crossed over to Israel in exchange for the planned release of 90 Palestinian prisoners. They were hugged tightly by mothers and relatives. The women were reunited with their mothers inside Israel.

Seeing it as a positive development, some Palestinians began returning to their homes. The next group of Gaza hostages was to be freed by the weekend to follow. Similarly, the second batch of Israeli prisoners was to be released on the seventh day from the start of the ceasefire.

There is supposed to be a surge of humanitarian aid, with hundreds of trucks entering Gaza daily. As per the U.N. World Food Program, over 600 trucks began entering through two crossings after the ceasefire became a reality. One can imagine the relief ensured for hostages and the people of Gaza as a result of such a positive activity.

Celebrations in Gaza

Across the Gaza Strip, expected celebrations erupted as people hoped for a long-awaited respite after intermittent fighting had killed tens of thousands of people, destroyed large areas of Gaza, and displaced most of its population. While fireworks were seen in the sky, Hamas-run police also became active after lying dormant for a long time.

In Rafah City of South Gaza, evidence of massive destruction was noticed. Some people found human remains, including skulls, in the rubble. One Muhammad Abu Taha, upon inspecting the ruins of his family home, stated that it was like seeing a Hollywood horror movie.

Ceasefire Brings Hope

Palestinians were reported to have burst into the streets to celebrate returning to the debris of their bombed-out homes. Over 130 bodies were discovered after the ceasefire began. They picked their way through narrow roads amid a completely devastated landscape of rubble and twisted metal.

One man, who had built a house piece by piece, discovered that it was gone forever.
"I feel alive again," said a woman.

According to the U.N., over 600 million tons of rubble have gathered, which may take over 15 years to clear. There is massive food insecurity in view of agriculture being completely in shambles. International aid would also depend upon political stability.

Cheers in Israel

On the other side, Israelis also cheered, embraced, and wept when three female hostages were released. In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, buses were awaiting the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli detention. Hamas stated that the first group to be freed in exchange for the hostages included 69 women and 16 teenage boys.

The truce calls for fighting to stop, aid to be sent into Gaza, and 33 of the 98 Israeli and foreign hostages still held there to be freed over the six-week first phase in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. As one Palestinian put it, "We are in pain. It is time to hug one another and cry."

For Hamas, the truce could provide an opportunity to emerge from the shadows after 15 months in hiding.

Release of Four More Women Soldiers by Hamas

Four soldiers captured from an army base in southern Israel during the attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, have been swapped during the second phase. It took place on January 25. They were handed over to the Red Cross.

In the six-week first phase of the current ceasefire, Israel has agreed to release 59 Palestinian prisoners for every female soldier's release. Meaning thereby, 200 prisoners were released in return for four female soldiers. They arrived on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza. Thousands of Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Ramallah celebrated their arrival. Some wore Hamas headbands, while others rode on the shoulders of supporters.

According to Israel, 94 Israelis and foreigners still remain in custody in Gaza. In the first phase, Hamas has agreed to release 33 hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

During the subsequent phase, the two warring sides would negotiate the exchange of the remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Needless to say, Gaza lies largely in ruins after 15 months of fighting. Gaza's economy is in shambles, with an 86% contraction due to war, as per the World Bank.

Who Will Govern Gaza?

Meanwhile, the candid, rather rude statement from the U.S. that Hamas will never govern Gaza has to be taken with a pinch of salt, or it may be a warning in view of the U.S.'s soft corner for Israel. Qatar's Prime Minister, however, at the Annual World Economic Summit at Davos, has made it clear that only Palestinians will rule Gaza and not any outside power.

Not only does the vibrant and continuously upgraded market for U.S. arms have to be kept booming, but its dominance in the Middle East must also be further strengthened. That appears to be the game plan.