Hostages to be Released: Hamas and Israel's Shaky Truce

The ceasefire in Gaza is hanging by a thread. Hamas has promised to free three more Israeli captives. This move could keep the fragile peace going, but it's far from guaranteed. Hamas had threatened to delay the release, accusing Israel of not holding up its end of the bargain. They wanted more tents, shelters, and other supplies. Israel, backed by former U. S. President Donald Trump, had warned of renewed attacks if the hostages weren't freed. Hamas held talks in Cairo with Egyptian officials. They also reached out to Qatar's prime minister. The goal? To get more supplies into Gaza. Hamas said mediators promised to clear all obstacles. A Hamas spokesman confirmed the release of three hostages on Saturday. Egyptian media showed trucks with temporary housing and bulldozers heading to Gaza. The truce faces big challenges ahead. The first phase ends in early March. There's been no serious talk about the second phase. That's when Hamas would release dozens more hostages in exchange for an end to the war. Trump's plan to move Palestinians out of Gaza has made things even more uncertain. Israel likes the idea, but Palestinians and Arab countries strongly oppose it. Human rights groups say it could be a war crime. The war started on October 7, 2023. Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing over 1, 200 people and taking around 250 hostages. More than half of the hostages have been freed or rescued. The captives are Hamas's last bargaining chips. They might not agree to more releases if they think the war will restart. Trump has sent mixed signals about Gaza. He claimed credit for the ceasefire but has doubts about how it's going. He says it's up to Israel to decide if the war should resume. He's also promised continued U. S. military support. Seventy-three hostages are still being held. About half are believed to be dead. Nearly all are men, including Israeli soldiers. The war has killed over 48, 000 Palestinians, mostly women and children. Israel says it has killed over 17, 000 militants. The fighting has destroyed large parts of Gaza. At its peak, 90% of the population was displaced. Many have returned home, but they've found only rubble and unexploded bombs. A new war would likely be even worse. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that if Hamas stops releasing hostages, "all hell will break loose. " He said a new war wouldn't end until Hamas is defeated. With fewer hostages left, Israel's military would have more freedom to act. They would also face fewer constraints from the U. S. The Biden administration had sometimes pressed Israel to allow more aid. Trump has lifted restrictions on arms transfers. His administration is pushing ahead with a $7 billion weapons sale. Trump has suggested moving Gaza's population elsewhere. He thinks wealthy Arab countries should pay for it. He also proposed that after the fighting ends, Israel would hand control of Gaza to the U. S. The U. S. would then redevelop it. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich wants to restart the war. He also wants Palestinians to leave Gaza and for Jewish settlements to be rebuilt there.